Labour, Greens slam Government’s public service targets for ‘punching down’ [Video]

The Government’s come under fire for setting targets on public services, with Opposition parties saying it’s about punishing Kiwis doing it tough rather than helping them.

On Monday, the Government released nine targets for various public services including health, education, crime, employment, housing and climate change. 

Last week Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced specific targets were being introduced to measure public service outcomes as part of the Government’s list of goals for the period until June 30.   

However, the targets were quick to come under fire from other parties.

Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds shared a personal story when criticising the plan.

“My father had to go on the benefit to look after my mum when she was dying from cancer. What he needed was support from a Government not basically the pressure to go back to work,” she said.

The Government wants 50,000 fewer people on the Jobseeker support benefit and in paid work, setting a target to reduce the number of Kiwis on Jobseekers from 190,000 in 2023 …