Member-only story
Unpacking Nicola Willis’ Callous View on Beneficiaries
When I heard Nicola Willis, our Finance Minister, smugly smile and say about beneficiaries ‘you know how they’ll receive more? By getting a job’ on Q&A, my blood boiled. People don’t receive benefits because they don’t want to work — it’s because sometimes, life doesn’t give you the luxury of choice. This dismissive attitude from someone in power felt like a slap in the face to those who are doing their best under increasingly difficult circumstances.
In today’s job market, opportunities are scarce, and someone will always be left behind. But that doesn’t mean they deserve to live in poverty. A decent standard of living should be a right, not a privilege. The reality is many beneficiaries are not just lazy or unmotivated. These are typically people who are disabled, ill, or sole parents tasked with the challenging job of raising young children on their own. This government has no compassion or understanding for them.
Growing up with a mother who depended on benefits gave me a clear view of the challenges faced by families in this situation. My mother wasn’t just sitting around; she was working as much as possible while dealing with difficult health issues. Suggesting that people on benefits should just ‘get a job’ overlooks the complexities of their lives. It’s not that straightforward, especially when the job market doesn’t…
