Working Hard for Families
7 September 2005
Judith Collins Family and Welfare Spokesperson
Working Hard for Families
National on families Families are the crucial building blocks of our society. National knows how important families are and is determined to give families the best chance to provide a secure upbringing for our children. In today's world more and more pressure is placed on families. National understands that pressure and will make government more family-friendly.
Fair tax plan for families The tax burden on all New Zealanders is too high. National understands families need a break. National will let families keep more of their income, so our kids get a better start. National will:
* Use some of the government's $7
billion annual surplus to reduce income tax in April 2006
and again in April 2007
* Tax income up to $12,500 at
15%, from $12,500 to $50,000 at 19% and from $50,000 to
$100,000 at 33%
* Reduce tax on extra work from 33% to
19% for the average wage earner
* Retain Working for
Families, but redesign it so that incentives are provided
automatically via the tax system
The Fair Tax Plan means:
* Families with a single income of $45,000pa and
one child under 13 will be $102 a week better off next year
* Families with a single income of $50,000pa and two
children under 13 will be $131 a week better off next year
* Families with two incomes of $50,000 and $20,000 and
three children under 13 will be $106 a week better off next
year
Check what National's Fair Tax Plan means for you at www.taxcuts.co.nz http://www.taxcuts.co.nz/
Childcare Childcare costs are a serious burden for many families. Parents need help with these costs and they need flexibility when making their childcare choices. National will:
* Make pre-school childcare costs tax deductible for
up to $5,000 per child
* Allow costs to be deducted at
33%, giving a tax refund of up to $1,650 a child per year
* Make the deduction available for all forms of
pre-school childcare, including registered childcare
centers, nannies or home-based care
Better schooling A decent education is the greatest gift a community can give its children. Far too many Kiwi kids are not getting this gift. National will change this. National will:
* Continue to grow the education budget
* Reduce
waste and spend more money on schools
* Bring in
national standards for English and maths
* Provide
vouchers to parents whose children have trouble with reading
or maths
* Overhaul NCEA and give students grades that
can be understood
* Remove Labour's rigid school zoning
* Tell parents how their children are getting on at
school, and how well their school is doing
Improve access to healthcare The most vulnerable people in our society need better and faster access to affordable healthcare. National will:
* Continue to grow the health budget
* Cut Labour's huge waste of health dollars and reverse
the decline in health sector productivity
* Maintain
existing primary health subsides for the young, the retired
and others that need support
* Develop a strategy to
fight child obesity
* Introduce a dental health strategy
for all school-age children
* Target 95% completion of
immunisation and Well Child checks
More support for parents National values the work people do as parents and we will ensure parents have adequate backup when dealing with difficult children. National will:
* Promote
parenting assistance, in particular for parents of children
in the Youth Justice system
* Focus on early
intervention for families most in need
* Support schools
in their efforts to eliminate bullying and truancy
* Expand Parents as First Teachers, Family Start, and
the HIPPY programme * Stop the political correctness
undermining parents' rights
ENDS