Have Your Say – Polls
We understand clearly that the only reason for our existence is to represent the voice of the people in our parliament. We believe that any party that is not constantly in touch with the views of the people is simply not doing its job. In this space you can read what others think on key issues, and you can let us know your views.
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Income Splitting and a Home Carer's allowance would give a real boost to those who care for people who cannot look after themselves. If we're serious about investing in the next generation then these two policies need to be top priority in the next government.
Fast Broadband would also provide greater flexibility for at home parents. United Future, with enough party votes, could make sure these things are delivered.
Posted by liberalcentrist 2008-08-18 19:18:01.426in a not for profit environment, as I found out in our strategic Board Meeting last Friday, a husband who works for a salary in a not for profit and a wife with one child (just turned a year old recently!)who gets part income as a 'couple' in working for not for profit, gets some of their family assistance [?] cut if paid more but the maths for tax makes this hard because the weight of work against income becomes questionable because of the lost of benefits of the income-especially if cost of living is added to that equation. It is the same for me: a single man (47),on an invalids benefit; work 15 hours a week, but if I work more hours paid, the weight against hours versus income hinders my ability to balance my budget.lost of income from WINZ against what I would get isn't enough to work with. I would have to work full time on a $45K salary or more to make it work. Money the organization doesn't have right now. So your proposal has merits. partners in a couple setting need equal consideration and that being at home looking after children or being there when their partners come home, is just as important because the partner may want to discuss matters related to the work he or she is doing outside of home that they both are involved in:
'equal weight of income for equal weight of work regardless of the type of work they legimately do.' (my quote)
Posted by Quentin Todd 2007-11-27 07:58:47.553See my comments on this under the blog on tax reform.
Posted by Peter Dunne 2007-11-20 11:29:02.215A simple solution would be to allow income splitting for couples who live together permantly where one is at home supporting the nurturing of the children
This gets rid of the bias that exists already in terms of family support and single parent support that is in the system, and would not require the setting up of direct payments to parents.
All that would be required would be an adjustment to the PAYE rates to allow less tax to be deducted.
The downside would be that parents would have to fill out tax returns - a small cost which could be funded by having a minimum threshold from which income splitting would occur.
Posted by Doug Widdowson 2007-11-20 10:42:08.255Hence the first step is to define homemaker/parent as a job, and homemaking/parenting as a valid economic contributor to GDP, which it definitely is.
I fully agree with you, we need to do it as well.
I wouldn't say the GDP of the homemaker is $100,000 but it is worth quite a bit.
I've done a sketch comparing my home costs to a daycare costs and it concluded that it cost us over $33 a day per child to keep them home between 9-5pm.
It is a rough draft since I am not an economist but I can email you the paper anytime if you think it will help.
Posted by Sara Landriault 2007-10-27 03:12:59.974One of the problems that besets us in NZ is that we have had a major shift in values, led by the PM, who believes that it is far more important we have more people in the workplace even if it means deriliction of duty to the children and other dependents in the home. This is driving all forms of Government policy and directives within MSD and IRD.
Hence the first step is to define homemaker/parent as a job, and homemaking/parenting as a valid economic contributor to GDP, which it definitely is.
Secondly we must then construct all forms of Government policy and directives to ensure that this is enforced by public servants at all levels including those taking statistics and setting allowances.
So what do people reckon the GDP of a homemaker is ? If one takes the negative view of what an effective homekaer and parent prevents it is probably upwards of $100k per annum.
Posted by Robin Gunston 2007-10-26 15:14:51.656I have recently paid a quick visit to Canada for discussions with various Federal Ministers (including the Minister of Finance) and officials about Canada's plans for income splitting. It is certainly on the agenda there, although not top priority. In any case, they are looking at applying it to all couples which would be horrendously expensive, not just couples with dependent children as is the proposal we are looking at in New Zealand. Our government discussion paper due next April will be setting out how such a system could work here but will also be looking at other alternatives including those applying in other countries such as Sara mentioned.
Posted by Peter Dunne 2007-10-23 21:18:06.933I am a childcare advocate in Canada and the President of the National Family Childcare Association www.careofthechild.com but on top of all that I am a stay at home mom of 3 daughters.
Personally I can tell you out of all the jobs I've had in my life being at home is the most challenging and the most rewarding at the same time.
There is no value for unpaid caregiving in Canada, that is why I research it around the world. Your United Future party seems to understand what I have been fighting for in Canada for years now. Our value only goes to daycare workers and our unions. Canada has the strongest unions in the world. Unfortunately unions don't respect or care about unpaid caregiving because we cannot pay union fees. Our fight is with the radical (not real) feminists and the unions where the money flows through them like wine and cheese. As for the rest of us we struggle for equality and yell at our Parliament in cheap shoes and knock off purses, but we do it with pride since we fully understand our children's futures are at stake. Please listen to the polls being asked of you from the United Future Party, because in Canada our cause is being ignored and pushed away to secure jobs for daycare workers.
My suggestion to you would be to have daycare vouchers like Australia and tax breaks like France and Sweden for parents at home.... consider and equal partnership with all parents and their own choices. Since it is the right of the parent to choose how to raise their own children.
The way your government is heading would honestly make me want to relocate my family there!
All the best!
Posted by Sara Landriault 2007-10-18 14:05:17.993Given that parents who stay at home to raise their children are shown to produce the best outcomes for their children and the society i believe this is a key area for government investment of energy
Posted by Steven Dromgool 2007-08-21 19:37:52.539Parenting is so under valued, a parents should be apid to stay at home. Also parenting courses should be user friendly and free of charge.
Posted by Diane Vivian 2007-08-17 07:36:16.898