Opinion on the Govern-ment’s new contraceptive plan for beneficiaries is divided, even among family-focus groups.

The initiative to provide free long-term contraceptives to female beneficiaries and their daughters is part of the first round of controversial welfare reforms that will cost the Government $287.5 million over four years, including $81.5m of new money.

Media spokesman for Family Life International NZ Brendan Roberts believes that offering free contraception to beneficiaries is reckless and will not solve the problem of welfare dependants continuing to have babies and staying out of the work force.

Family Life is also concerned that the Government has ignored the potential side-effects the use of long- acting contraception has on the user.

“The Government is offering to supply teenage girls with long-acting contraception which has the potential to seriously harm them,” explained Colleen Bayer, director of Family Life International NZ. “IUDs, Depo Provera and Jadelle all have serious side-effects which should not be ignored.”

Family Life pointed out that the use of long-term contraception did not protect the user from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). “In fact, it leaves teenage girls more open to contracting a STI as the likelihood of pregnancy is greatly diminished, giving permission to the girl to have sexual intercourse freely.”

Family First NZ, on the other hand, believes that free contraception is a logical step towards preventing teen welfare dependency. “Up to half of current DPB (Domestic Purposes Benefit) recipients started on welfare as teenagers, and 20 per cent of women on the DPB have additional children while on the benefit,” says national director Bob McCoskrie. “Offering contraception to teenage mothers to prevent future pregnancies until they are ready for having another child is a logical and common sense approach.”

However, Family First is rejecting offering the contraception to girls simply because they are daughters of beneficiaries. “The message we should be sending to these teenagers is to promote strong relationships, and delay sexual activity until they are ready for the consequences,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is also alarmed about beneficiaries being targeted. “Our concern is twofold. First, it carries the message that beneficiaries and their daughters are incapable of making rational reproductive choices.

“And second, why not make contraception free to all women without discrimination? There are plenty of women who would be grateful for some financial help with their family planning costs,” said spokesperson Mike O’Brien.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig argued that people should not have to pay for another’s lifestyle choice. “Why should, say, a 70-year-old who’s had one partner all their life be paying for a young woman to sleep around? We are faced with a reality that the constant changing of partners is a decision young women are making. It’s a destructive decision on a lot of levels,” said Mr Craig. “Health is one of those, and it is a big cost to us.”

By Gemma Margerison and Lavinia Ngatoko