UnitedFuture's Budget Gains
2008-05-22 17:45:00.0
AUTHOR: Judy Turner
The tax cuts announced in today’s Budget are long overdue. They have been inevitable since the UnitedFuture-led Business Tax Review introduced the first business tax cut in 20 years in last year’s Budget.
Hon Peter Dunne will be announcing our tax policy in a couple of week’s time so watch this space!
UnitedFuture is celebrating with students and parents across the country for changes to student allowance eligibility that will see more allowances and less debt for thousands of students. This gain is the direct result of our Supply and Confidence agreement with the Labour-led government.
UnitedFuture supports universal student allowances, and the reduction from 25 years to 24 years for the age at which you are no longer tested against your parents income,
So as far as we are concerned, this is just the start of the journey towards an eventual age limit of 18 years, but a very necessary first step.
UnitedFuture is delighted that the government has finally chosen to respond to the needs of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in New Zealand and has closed the gap between kinship caregivers and foster parents in the money paid for child support.
However there are additional steps that we will now encourage future budgets to include. This package does not entitle grandparents to the additional allowances that foster parents receive for the range of extra expenses. Sometimes it pays to be a dripping tap in a Minister’s ear.
Finally I welcome today’s Budget announcement of $11.9 million over four years for the ‘barcode project’ aimed at improving patient safety in hospitals around the. This is part of the roll out of the Medicines Strategy United Future negotiated with the government after the 05 election.
It’s estimated a 65% reduction in medication error in DHB hospitals would prevent about 250 deaths each year, 670 permanent disabilities and about 6800 other disabilities of shorter duration. So it has to be good!
The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax Albert Einstein