Parents’ Choice supports United Future’s Families Policy

Parents Choice’08, today announced that it would be drawing the attention of its supporters to United Future’s policy of supporting Income Splitting for tax purposes.
Parents Choice Chairman, Roger Ellis, said “We have been in discussions with several political parties to see which ones were most supportive of parents at home”.
“We recognise that there are aspects of most parties policies that will help parents raise their children as responsible and confident adults. However, United Future has a comprehensive policy programme centred on parenting and raising children. For Parents Choice Income Splitting is a key enabler for parents who deserve recognition for the time they spend investing in the next generation” said Mr Ellis.
Today we are announcing that in our view United Future’s support for parents makes it worthy of serious consideration by voters. We commend such policies as:
• Income Splitting – to recognise the work done by at home parents
• More support for children with disabilities through a Caregivers Allowance.
• Income tax reductions - A simplified personal tax system (10% on income up to $12,000; 20% on income between $12,000 and $38,000; and 30% on income above $38,000.)
• Character education programmes in schools and
• One-stop shop family service centres for parents and children.
We hope that United Future will make the introduction of optional Income Splitting a bottom line in any post-election discussions.
We urge our supporters to consider which parties will best give recognition to parenting as a priority and to vote accordingly.

Strong Support For Income Splitting

New Zealanders from all walks of life have given an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea of Income Splitting. Over 205 written submissions were received by Inland Revenue, 90% of which supported the proposal and only 7% opposed it.

Seventy percent of submitters said income splitting should be optional and income should be split on a 50/50 basis.

United Future Leader, Peter Dunne, said "UnitedFuture has long championed income splitting as an option for families who want to be able to have one parent stay at home and carry out the vital duties of raising children and strengthening families.
This level and tone of response shows that New Zealanders also support income splitting."

Parents Choice '08 believes that Income Splitting provides greater flexibility to parents and enables parents to determine work and child care arrangements.

Parents As Partners - Valuing Parenthood

Parents As Partners is a Waikato-based lobby group that has been leading the charge for better recognition of parenting for many years. When the time comes for congratulations to be passed around when Income Splitting is finally enacted then a huge congrats would be owed to Christine of Hamilton. She has been a tireless worker for the right of parents to be treated as equal partners in parenting.

Her group Parents As Partners aims to enable parents to "establish a partnership for the support of their family;

that we as parents are workers, and that our work is vitally important for the well-being of our society and the economy.

the value of "mother or father-in-the-home". In the context of a recognised partnership they would achieve economic visibility.

the right of parents to share their income for tax purposes by means of the partnership.

that the tasks of income earning and care giving are of equal importance for the family, and that the parents should be free to divide those tasks between them as they see fit, without economic constraints on one or other choice."

Parents Choice '08 wishes the team at Parents As Partners every success in the movement towards greater recognition of parenting. Check out their website at: www.parentsaspartners.org.nz