The speakers for our next free seminar, in Auckland on Monday 30th August, are Susan St John and Sue Bradford.

Sue will examine what this Government is trying to do with the Welfare Working Group, background the current situation with child poverty, and look at some of the ways forward.

Susan asks the questions 'Why didn’t we fix child poverty when we had the chance? Working for Families is a lost opportunity? Is a Universal Child Benefit the answer, or is there another way?'

Both speakers will outline what they consider to be the way forward and the best ways for us to act.

Dr Susan St John Child Poverty Action Group

Sue Bradford Alternative Welfare Working Group

This is a burning moral and economic issue for our society, so please come and join the debate. The Auckland free seminar will be held 5.30-7.30pm, Monday 30th August, in Room 310, Decima Glenn, Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland Business School.

You can register on our web site. If you know of others who may be interested, please take advantage of the 'Tell a Friend' feature on the registration page.

Arguments in NZ about the right mixture of government tax and spending initiatives have focused mainly on whether such measures might stimulate the economy. Among the major themes of the recent budget were the alleged need to address the 'undue tax burden' on high income earners and the implication that to widen and strengthen the tax net would deter investors. Instead, public sector austerity is to be the favoured path to revitalising the economy. While opponents have asserted that the opposite tack might provide even greater stimulation, there has been little analysis of this approach in terms of fundamental 'tax philosophy' and implications for social justice.