United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the Government's plans to increase the charitable donations tax rebate by $100 to $600 although welcome, are really "quite miserly."

"Voluntary agencies are the backbone of our communities, and deserve greater support and encouragement."

"Bigger tax rebates for charitable donations are one way of achieving this, and I am disappointed Dr Cullen is proposing such a limited and miserly increase."

"United Future believes we ought to be taking a far more expansive and generous approach to charitable donations and the work of the voluntary sector."

"In our view, the voluntary and charitable sector has a much greater capacity to assist in the provision of health and social services and education, and this ought to be encouraged far more," Mr Dunne says.

United Future believes that an enhanced role for the voluntary sector runs completely contrary to the Government's strong emphasis on building up state-provided services, which is why the moves on the charitable donations rebate are so limited.

"This rebate has not been adjusted for about 20 years, so the increase of $100 still means we are going backwards in terms of encouraging charitable donations and voluntary sector support."

"At the same time, we ought to be extending the rebate concept to include a rebate for equivalent voluntary time donated by community volunteers, who may be unable to make financial donations, but whose contribution to the work of the community is no less valuable," Mr Dunne says.

United Future will be proposing significant adjustments in the charitable donations rebate and a new community volunteers' rebate when its policy is announced next year, Mr Dunne says.

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