After another day of Louise Upston refusing to apologise for causing more pain to Kiwis, Christopher Luxon needs to step in.
“This has gone on long enough. Kiwis are paying the price for National’s choices, Louise Upston is missing in action and it’s time for Christopher Luxon to show some leadership,” Labour social development and employment spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.
“Where is the accountability? We still haven't heard an apology for the 88,000 food grants that have been declined at a time when one in three households are struggling to access food.
“National is denying food grants at a drastically higher rate while failing to tackle the cost of living. New Zealanders simply cannot afford another three years of this government.
“An apology is the bare minimum. Instead, National is throwing officials under the bus rather than taking responsibility for decisions that wrongly cut payments to pensioners, veterans and an unknown number of other Kiwis.
“Take 84-year-old pensioner Tom Evison, who was left distressed after his winter energy payment and disability allowance was wrongly cut, despite doing everything right. That is the human cost behind the tens of thousands of Kiwis who have lost out under National.
“Why hasn’t Christopher Luxon called Louise Upston for a ‘please explain’? New Zealanders deserve answers, and they are tired of watching families struggle to put food on the table and keep warm while this government refuses to take responsibility,” Willow-Jean Prime said.
