'Free ride' for unemployed young people will end under a National government, says Christopher Luxon

8 August, 2022

During his speech at an annual party conference over the weekend, National leader Christopher Luxon accused young people of getting a "free pass" from the Labour government. Photo: New Zealand National Party.

By Jessica Hopkins

The National Party has announced its welfare policy, which includes cutting payments for young people on the jobseeker benefit if they do not make a "sufficient effort" to get a job.

National would instead offer a $1000 bonus to anyone under 25 who has been on the benefit for 12 months or longer, who then starts work and stays off the benefit for the next 12 months.

During his speech at an annual party conference over the weekend, National leader Christopher Luxon accused young people of getting a "free pass" from the Labour government.

"To young people who don't want to work, you might have a free ride under Labour, but under National, it ends."

Luxon said that under a National government, young people trying to find a job would get help from a job coach. 

"We'll contract them to provide under 25-year-olds, who've been on a benefit for three months or more, with a dedicated job coach to help them get into work."

Those who don't turn up for courses, don't apply for jobs, or don't engage with their jobs coach would receive sanctions. However, Luxon gave no detail in his speech about what those sanctions would look like.

Social welfare organisation E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services called National's youth unemployment policy "out of touch." 

"Cutting them off from financial support does nothing to truly address mental wellbeing and wider systemic issues they face," said Policy and Advocacy Lead Emmaline Pickering-Martin.

About 100,000 people are receiving the jobseeker benefit. 

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