$350 cost of living payments a 'poor mechanism'

In the budget, finance minister Grant Robertson unveiled a suite of measures targeting cost of living pressures. (Image: Getty)

Oliver Lewis

Fri, 20 May 2022

Officials are seriously concerned about the government’s headline cost of living response to paying low-to-middle income earners $350.Treasury recommended against a broad-based payment and suggested the government ought to investigate more targeted support for lower-income households, which are the worst affected by inflation and cost of living pressures.Inflation has risen over the past year and is expected to be widespread in the future, officials warned in advice released alongside the bill.“This makes a one-off payment a poor me...

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