United Future

Posted at 2007-08-30 15:23:36.429. Permalink.

It was a fantastic read all 29 pages of the full Family position discussion document. I will be down loading & returning the questionnaire & returning it with brief comments

Posted at 2007-12-09 10:12:51.785. Permalink.

Peter
As one whom Sue Bradford called a "beater of children" I think you speak with a forked tongue.

So I will carefully read all of the download with the understanding that it was YOU who enabled me to be considered a criminal for giving my child a smack on the bottom!

So forgive me if I am coming from the premise you aren't to be trusted and I should look upon what you issue with concern.

Posted at 2007-12-31 10:35:50.933. Permalink.

Is it the government's right to interfere with the people, and the most personal part of a persons life - their relationships? Is it the government's duty? Will it be accepted by the people?

Or is it too late?

Posted at 2008-01-02 20:21:48.469. Permalink.

I note that you do not want comment on whether physical discipline chould be used, or whether children chould be home schooled.

This is not a novel way of forming policy. It is a discussion document that touches on things that YOU want discussed, not what parents want discussed.

Posted at 2008-01-16 18:30:54.028. Permalink.

You say that you are consulting parents,so could you please answer my question....
Why are many children in NZ worth so much more than others now?
The child of a parent who is on welfare costs approximately $70 a week to support.Well that's all this government gives the parents.
But when a man is earning a reasonable income,the cost of supporting one child through child support sky rockets to up to $280 a week.
Why are some little kids,many of whom are beaten and bashed,be worth less than $280 a week?

Posted at 2008-01-22 17:32:03.934. Permalink.

You probably won't get to consult many of the parents that you need to.Like this young couple for example...
Between them they work 70 hours per week at $13 an hour.
Net that amounts to $710 a week plus family tax credits of $90 = $800 a week.
All day child care costs have to come out of their wages.
Another example...
A solo mother of two children earns $346 a week net.
She also receives child support payments of $285 a week plus family tax credits of $199 a week = $830 a week.Plus accommodation assistance and rates relief because she is a low income earner.
She has no child care costs.
Not bad considering she only works 25 hours per week while the young couple working 70 hours per week are struggling.

Posted at 2008-01-23 14:54:43.727. Permalink.

You make a valid point regarding the cost of a child. While there is a figure with regard to welfare payments, we do not have a similar figure with regard to children for whom child support is payable, perferring instead to focus solely on the ability on the non-custodial parent to pay. I think this is too narrow and have asked my officials to look at the Australian model where there is cost of child figure, and see whether this approach could be adopted here.

Posted at 2008-01-25 20:32:07.494. Permalink.

The ability to pay,as I'm sure you must realise,differs greatly.Where one person's costs for petrol each week are $120,others who earns the same income can cost $20 a week.
Some may have remarried,some not.Those who have will sadly find out that the liveable allowance for their wives is only $72 a week.
Is that based on the year 1978 figures?
Hey it's 2008 or have the great thinkers in government forgotten that?
The liveable allowance for a single person is $203 a week.
Where would a person pitch a tent for that these days where they could have running water and be able to afford to eat?
If a non-custodial parent is hospitalized for less than 13 weeks,they still have to pay child support.If they don't pay or can't pay,penalties are added.
I'm not sure what happens if that parent dies and who is responsible for paying those penalties?
So many questions.
You are the minister of inland revenue,I hope you can up with some answers.

Posted at 2008-02-29 19:22:33.942. Permalink.

You havn't answered me yet Peter.Are you too ashamed to admit that if a liable parent dies who owes penalties for child support,those penalties will be taken out of his or her estate (usually his)which is the child's inheritance.
Would that not be thought upon as filling your own coffers by robbing from little children???
The ones you claim to be SO concerned about.
Face the truth.
You're concerned about children when the liable parent is living,but when he's dead, you are not.

Posted at 2008-04-15 21:04:16.543. Permalink.

Carol, your comments are absolutely true - the system is a sham. First you get your access stolen from you and then you get ripped off. All you can do is stand there and take it - otherwise you end up paying $32 in fines per actual $1 in assessment.
Who's doing something about this? Who knows - but I definitely can't see anything being done.