<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>11</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 20 OPINION/LETTERS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz National’s line on jobs an 80s flashback Canterbury Mornings host on Newstalk ZB Christchurch John MacDonald talks jobs IS ANY job better than no job? <strong>The</strong> National Party seems to think so – announcing yesterday that, if it becomes government, there’ll be no more young people lying around on the unemployment benefit playing video games all day. “<strong>The</strong> free ride is over” – that was the warning shot fired from the luxurious surroundings of Christchurch’s new Te Pae Convention Centre, to young people in Aranui, Linwood, Spreydon, Otara . . . In fact, anywhere in New Zealand where there is a young person currently receiving the unemployment benefit. Or Jobseeker benefit, as it’s known these days. And when I saw the coverage on TV on Monday night, I thought I was back in the 80s. Especially pre-’87 when it seemed anyone who had a spare bit of cash was starting up or joining a shares club and there were yuppies left, right and centre who seemed to be making money out of nothing. It turned out they were making money out of nothing and it all came crashing down but, before SO THE NZR circus continues with another loss for the All Blacks, this time to South Africa. Ian Foster, as most people realise, should never have got the job of All Black coach. Poorly selected teams are at the heart of the problem. Crusaders scrum coach, Jason Ryan, has made a difference. He is not a selector as was not another former Crusaders co-coach it did, if you weren’t in a share club or if you weren’t a yuppie you were what we here in New Zealand referred to at the time as a dole bludger. If you were on a benefit, it was because you couldn’t be bothered working and all you needed was a good kick up the backside and sent out to do an honest day’s work. Because it never did us any harm! That was back in the 80s. But fast-forward to Monday, and the National Party seems to think the same solution is needed. <strong>The</strong> gist of its policy is that anyone under 25 who’s been on the jobseeker benefit for more than three months would get what’s being called a “job coach” to essentially do whatever is needed to get them into a job. And then when you get a job, if you stick at it for 12 months you get a $1000 bonus from the taxpayer. But if you don’t go along with the plan laid out by the “job coach”, then there would be what the National Party is calling “sanctions”. Even the word “sanctions” reeks of Margaret Thatcher, doesn’t it? On Tuesday morning, party leader Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB that these sanctions would start with state control of beneficiaries’ spending and then eventually their unemployment benefit would be out the window if they didn’t toe the line and get a job. to Scott Robertson, Brad Mooar, who was ridiculously jettisoned by Foster a couple of weeks ago. <strong>The</strong> bizarre non-selection of Richie Mo’unga at first-five, who regularly shows his genius for the Crusaders, is sickening. -Graham Paterson, Redwood I recently had occasion to spend three fascinating days in the company of the Mayor of ENGAGEMENT: National Party Leader Christopher Luxon doing a walk about at the annual party conference. PHOTO: GEORGE HEARD/NZ HERALD Now I think this policy is a disaster. It will sound good but, in my view, it will achieve nothing. It’s all big stick with a little bit of carrot. It’s the sort of thing that is very easy to trot out – but making it happen is a completely different story. For starters, does the National Party have any idea why some or all of these young people aren’t working? Doesn’t it understand that some of them come from really good families who have done all the right things – who aren’t “the no-hoper parents” people like to rant on about – but in spite of all that, life just throws some cruel things at these young people? Christchurch, Lianne Dalziel, after we happened to be seated together at the World Cities Summit in Singapore. <strong>The</strong> mayor told me her term is coming to an end later this year. In my discussions with her, she showed herself to be a rare thing in politics: genuinely caring, principled, without ego, concerned about the details, and still interested in learning – even Things like mental health issues. But also self-esteem and confidence problems. Kids who, especially over the past two-tothree years, have spent so much time in isolation that the idea of going out terrifies them. I know young people right now – some of them I’ve known since they were babies – who are really struggling at the moment. And what does National think will help them? Telling them that the free ride is over and they need to get a job. Is this really still the answer in <strong>2022</strong>? Are we really going back to the days of calling everyone who doesn’t have a job a “dole bludger”? Another reason why I think Rugby woes continue with latest loss after a long innings in office. Her legacy is, no doubt, secured in a stronger, better and more resilient city for everyone. I very much enjoyed meeting her, and I wish her well in the next phase of her life. Residents of your fine city can feel proud of their mayor. Take five, Mayor Dalziel - you’ve earned it. -Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa it won’t work is that National seems to have completely forgotten – or ignored – what would actually have to happen to make it work. Where would all these “job coaches” come from? What would the Ministry of Social Development have to stop doing so it could implement this new policy? What would the consequences be of cutting someone’s unemployment benefit just because they don’t get a job? More crime, anyone? I was talking to a 75-year-old woman on Saturday night who is still working. She started working when she was 16 and she’s at the point now where she thinks it’s time to wind things up. I’d never met her before and I don’t know a lot about her but it sounded to me like she and her husband had done pretty well for themselves, but they had obviously worked very hard to get there. Now she could easily be very critical of “the current generation” and be of the view that if she managed to work hard and keep working, then anyone could. But she wasn’t, and even she acknowledged that life is so much more complicated for young people today. And I’m picking that, like me, she won’t be falling for this cheap talk from the National Party. – NZ Herald We want to hear your views on the issues affecting life in Canterbury Send emails to: barry@ starmedia.kiwi Letters may be edited or rejected at <strong>Star</strong> Media’s discretion. Letters should be about 200 words. A name, postal address and phone number should be provided. Please use your real name, not a nickname, alias, pen name or abbreviation. KIRST & BEAVS IZZY & KEMPY DOWNLOAD THE SENZ APP TODAY
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