National has let the problem of youth unemployment get seriously out of control. They’re in denial about it. This afternoon Labour released a substantial policy package on the issue. Stuff reports:
Labour will cut dole spending, fund apprenticeships
Labour would cut spending on the dole and redirect millions in to apprenticeships, leader Phil Goff has announced. The party announced a youth skills and employment package at a gas fitting and plumbing firm in Lower Hutt today.
Goff said the youth unemployment rate was ”far too high” and a ”ticking time-bomb” that had to be fixed. ”These kids are our future but at the moment they are being left on the scrapheap. If we don’t do something now, we will all pay a far higher price,” Goff said.
Labour’s plan included:
– Converting dole payments into a $8700 subsidy for 9000 apprenticeship places
– 5000 new training places for 16- and 17-year-olds
– 1000 extra group and shared apprenticeships
– Supporting and mentoring at-risk school leavers into earning or learning opportunities.The package would cost $251m over four years and would be funded partly by reprioritising $80m from existing schemes, including $58m cut from dole payments. The additional $171m would be paid for out of extra tax revenue netted from the party’s new capital gains tax and top rate of income tax.
And from TVNZ:
Labour youth policy to dip into dole money
Labour youth skills and employment package unveiled today will cut spending on the dole and redirect millions to fund apprenticeships. Labour will reprioritise $80 million from existing schemes, with $58 million going to the apprenticeship subsidy instead of dole payments. It will be funded out of revenue from Labour’s tax plan.
The party proposes converting dole payments into a $8700 subsidy to fund 9000 additional apprenticeship places. Dole payments would be converted into incentives for employers to take on additional apprentices.
The package will cost $251 million over four years, starting before young people leave school and Labour claims it will see teens earning or learning within three years. …
Labour MP Jacinda Ardern said Key is targeting a small group of unemployed and ignoring the majority. She said he has targeted 1600 young people rather the other 58,000 people who are not in jobs, education or training. Key responded by saying New Zealand has a welfare system that is not sustainable.
Once again the public is being offered a choice between Labour’s realistic response to a significant problem, and more do-nothing smile and wave.
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