Income Sharing Legislation Before Parliament
AUTHOR: Peter Dunne
The response to the income sharing legislation I have introduced to Parliament has been overwhelming.
My office has been flooded with messages of positive support, and it has been a big topic of conversation at every meeting or function I have attended since Monday.
Many people have been keen to tell me their story of the impact income sharing would have on their households and families. Here are a few examples of what they have said:
“I have never asked for a handout and have been in relatively high paying (and therefore paid a lot of tax) jobs all my life. I have also been the main breadwinner all my married life too and fortunately, it’s something that does not concern my husband who more than pulls his weight when it comes to managing the family and children.”
“Good on you for your Income Splitting Bill..! I sit amongst a vastly larger group of NZers who along with my partner: doesn't earn anything like $140K, earns too much to qualify for Working for Families, by all accounts, shoulders the country's tax burden, struggles to raise two wonderful children and help then realise their potential.”
“My daughter is forced to stay at home, her son diagnosed Type 1 diabetes at age 7 months, is now just over two and requires 24hour full time care. Her efforts now to control his diabetes are saving huge future medical costs. She is fortunate to have a degree in mathematics and I am a Medical Scientist so she has a good understanding of what is required for his care. Apart from a small monthly allowance there is no state help to compensate her for loss of income providing care that ultimately benefits the state.”
“As one of many older Mums (38) I have worked hard to date and happily paid high tax rates my entire career... I think your bill will encourage people to make better choices or provide them with an economic buffer, particularly whilst their families are young.”
What is most surprising, therefore, is the virulence of Labour’s opposition to the move, with one of its spokespeople managing to insult every woman in New Zealand by dismissing income sharing as no more than a benefit for the wives of rich lawyers. The irony is, of course, that the work to develop this legislation began during the term of the previous Labour-led government, as part of UnitedFuture’s confidence and supply agreement with that government. So you can draw either of two conclusions about Labour’s current attitude: either, they were merely paying lip service to the idea while they were the government, or, now they are in Opposition their blind mentality of oppose, oppose, oppose has taken over. Either way, it is not a good look for their credibility.
Many National MPs (and one or two Ministers) have told me privately they support income sharing and will be pushing their party to support the legislation through all its stages in Parliament. I am encouraging everyone who supports income sharing to continue lobbying their local National MPs to back this legislation, right the way through. If they listen to the public mood, they will.