Billionaire couple campaign for ministry to recover coronavirus wage subsidies

a petition A protest calling on the Ministry of Social Development to return billions of dollars in COVID-19 wage subsidies has gathered more than 10,000 signatures.

It was launched by Christchurch billionaires and philanthropists Grant Nelson and Marilyn Nelson. Litigation in High Court on this issue in May.

Grant Nelson said the response to the petition has been overwhelming.

The ministry said it is contacting companies that have received subsidies and asking them to confirm their entitlement to receive subsidies or ask them to repay them.

“We know about $780 million has been voluntarily repaid, and we acknowledge the Department’s efforts to bring about 36 lawsuits to court over the past three years, but this is up to 453 It’s just a drop compared to the prosecution of human beneficiaries’ in just one year. ”

He said he didn’t think it was too much to ask and believed thousands of New Zealanders would agree.

“Marilyn and I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported our call to action and signed our petition. That’s why we funded a nationwide awareness campaign to call attention to this issue.” ”