Louise Upston
Govt unveils new traffic light system for beneficiaries
Beneficiaries could face tougher sanctions as the government unveils its new traffic light system aimed at cracking down on those out of work. It's part of a raft of changes to the benefit system… Audio
Social Development Minister on govt's child poverty targets
The Child Poverty Report - released alongside Budget 2024 - shows an increase to the targeted percentage for all three measures of child poverty. Social Development Minister Louise Upston spoke to… Audio
People on job seeker benefit to be managed over the phone
Thousands of young people on the job seeker benefit are to be managed over the phone, and if they fail to make their appointment they could face sanctions. The move, announced by Social Development… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 15 July 2024
On today's episode, we cross to Washington DC for the latest on the attempt to assassinate former President Trump. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston discusses a new… Audio
Benefit appointments move to phone calls, sanctions possible
Thousands of young people on the job seeker benefit will now meet with a case manager over the phone, but may face sanctions if they miss the call without a good reason. The new over-the-phone service… Audio
Employment Minister responds to govt public service targets
The Prime Minister has outlined nine measureable goals or so called Better Public Service Targets. Among them; An aim to get 95% of people elective treamtments within four months. Getting 95% of… Audio
Employment minister responds to hundreds of job losses in public sector
The axe is falling on hundreds of jobs in the public sector, with the latest losses looming at Oranga Tamariki and The Ministry of Health. Ministries have been ordered to find between 6.5 and 7.5% in… Audio
Welfare and immigration set for a 'reset'
The PM’s State of the Nation speech got the media’s attention when he said welfare needs reform. He didn't mention record-level immigration but that’s also been deemed unsustainable and set for a… Video, Audio
Welfare and immigration set for a 'reset'
The PM’s State of the Nation speech got the media’s attention when he said welfare needs reform. He didn't mention record-level immigration but that’s also been deemed unsustainable and set for a…
Video, AudioNew approach needed to reduce child poverty: Minister Louise Upston
Child advocates have criticised the government saying it doesn't have any specific strategy to fight child poverty.
They say changes to benefit indexing and tax cut policies won't help families that… Audio
Welfare Minister defends benefit crackdown
The government's directive to ramp up welfare sanctions to stop what it calls the surge in benefit dependency under Labour, is being slammed by parties on the left.
The coalition has told officials… Audio
Benefit sanctions cop criticism
The government is being accused of ignoring evidence, as it orders the increased use of benefit sanctions.
It has directed the Ministry of Social Development to ramp up the use of penalties on… Audio
Governments crack down on beneficiaries has started
MSD has officially been instructed to "actively" use all levers available to encourage people off the benefit and into work and that includes sanctions. In a letter outlining her expectations Minister… Video, Audio
National says traffic light policy for beneficiaries driven by 'love'
Cruel, dehumanising and out of touch. That's one description of National's policy to get more beneficiaries into work. But party leader Christopher Luxon's reckons it's a policy driven by love. If in… Video, Audio
Lento, presto, repeat: Louise Upston’s member’s bill
Louise Upston’s been working on a victims rights member’s bill for more than a decade. After a long gestation and a troubled passage this week it suddenly raced to the finish line. Audio
Lento, presto, repeat: Louise Upston’s member’s bill
Louise Upston’s been working on a victims rights member’s bill for more than a decade. After a long gestation and a troubled passage this week it suddenly raced to the finish line.
AudioThe oral salsa: Parliament goes fast, slow, fast
Parliament had a fast-slow-fast week of debating. Phil Smith looks at why the rhythm changes like an oral salsa dance. Audio
The oral salsa: Parliament goes fast, slow, fast
Parliament had a fast-slow-fast week of debating. Phil Smith looks at why the rhythm changes like an oral salsa dance.
AudioConversion practices & debate therapy
We look at the first outing of the conversion therapy ban bill, and whether MPs could need therapy for first reading confusion. Audio
Conversion practices & debate therapy
We look at the first outing of the conversion therapy ban bill, and whether MPs could need therapy for first reading confusion.
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