Mental Health Foundation criticises ACT Party disability benefit proposal

The Mental Health Foundation has criticised the ACT Party's pre-election proposal to reduce disability benefits by more than $650 million. Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson described the plan as poorly researched and said it was "based in bigotry".

ACT's fiscal strategy aims to return per-capita spending to 2017 levels through ministry cuts, reduced foreign aid, and benefit crackdowns. The proposed disability benefit cuts would involve $12 million in the first year, increasing to $124 million, $231 million, and $286 million in subsequent years.

ACT leader David Seymour stated the party would implement independent medical certification against specific criteria for health and disability benefits. Seymour suggested that the increase in people unable to work might be due to poor management of people who could be working rather than a rise in sickness.

Robinson argued that statistics from the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand contradict Seymour's views on a mental health epidemic. He noted that mental distress increased from 7 per cent to 14 per cent since 2019, while distress among young people rose from 11 per cent to 23 per cent.

Where reports differ

• One report specifies that the election is on November 7, while the other does not mention the election date

Compiled from reports by RNZ and Otago Daily Times.