26-06-2013
Policy announcement
• Prime Minister • Social Development Minister An examina on of New Zealand media coverage John Key Paula Benne of the announcement of free long-ac ng contracep on for welfare beneficiaries
Jayne Lucke 7 May 2012
Policy announcement Media ar cles in data set Ar cles Le ers Op-ed Total •• Broad package of welfare reforms announced Prime Minister • Social Development Minister First 3 days 14 10 7 31 Up to 1 week 4 9 14 27 • Sole parents expected to return to work part- me John Key Paula Benne Later 0 18 8 26 when child turns 5; full me when child turns 14 Total 18 37 29 84 – If they have an addi onal child while on benefit they 20 must return to work when child turns 1 15 Ar cles • Access to childcare and long-ac ng reversible Le ers 10 methods of contracep on provided to support Op-ed return to work policy 5 7 May 2012 0 First 3 days Up to 1 week Later
Autonomy State control “Ms Bennet denied young women would Consequences Autonomy be coerced to get a contracep on implant. ‘It’s not compulsory, it’s something to add to them trying to plan S gma their family so they’ve got choices. It’s Access completely reasonable.’”
Nelson Mail; Ar cle Disadvantage
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Access “Speaking outside a central Auckland Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) office yesterday, 22- year-old Rudinia Smith said she may not have had “Some women were prohibited from the all three of her children if she been educated best contracep on op on for them about contracep on and had been offered it free.” because of cost, of up to $800 in some Northern cases, which was an “ongoing problem” Advocate; for GPs.” Ar cle
Otago Daily Times; Ar cle
Disadvantage S gma
“The issue of free contracep on for “The really noxious component of the beneficiaries was bound to birth the whole proposal is its extension to the usual arguments ... but arguing about the teenage daughters of beneficiaries who issue will never solve the problem of the are over the age of consent ... the scores of unwanted children who inference is unavoidable ... that being a become trapped in a world of poverty trollop is hereditary.” and depriva on.”
Waikato Times; Op-ed New Zealand Herald; Op-ed
Reproduc ve consequences State control of reproduc on “Following the announcement of free contracep on for women on benefits, Mr “Green Party co-leader Me ria Turei Craig proclaimed the Government said ‘The Government has no right to shouldn't provide anything if New Zealand intrude on a woman's choice to have a girls con nued to be so promiscuous.[He child. It should get its hands off our said] the average Kiwi female’s life is one wombs.’” of irresponsibility, ‘destruc ve’ behaviour and wanton sexual deviance.” Daily Post; Op-ed New Zealand Herald; Ar cle
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State control of reproduc on State control of reproduc on
“State Seeks Entry into Bedroom ... I tend to think that the family planning decisions of New Zealanders are private affairs. It is a nanny state which seeks entry into the na onal bedroom.”
Manawatu Standard; Op-ed Dominion Post
Conclusions • Media coverage of the policy announcement – Demonstrates that public funding of contracep on is a controversial issue in New Zealand. – Illustrates the wide diversity, and strength, of opinions about sexual and reproduc ve health issues.
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