
Louise Upston on National's plan to cut Jobseeker benefits
National has announced a plan to rip nearly half a billion dollars out of the welfare system. Starting from April 2028 it would reduce the Jobseeker benefit for those who had been on it for two of the previous three years. Beneficiaries without children would have their benefit cut by $48 a week. For those with children the cut would be $24 a week. National is also promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're ready for work. Spokeswoman Louise Upston spoke to Guyon Espiner.
The skinny
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