Time To Change Failed Recipe

Peter's Position blog sees the United Future leader advocating greater use of voluntary and not for profit organisations to help grapple with the thorny social and family issues that have been languishing in the "too hard" basket for decades now.

While there is always the risk that under-resourcing could compound existing social inequalities surely the time has come to try a new approach from the tried and failed framework of centralised government agencies attempting and failing to deal with entrenched failure in education, health, welfare and skills training?

If the challenges of appropriate accountability for public funding and necessary audits can be maintained or made simpler and more effective then perhaps the time has come for a decentralised approach to social service delivery.  Such an approach could work well with the desire by many iwi organisations to take greater autonomy for delivery of services to their own people.

Liberal Democrats Confirm Commitment to Scrap Tuition Fees

http://www.nickclegg.com/2009/12/tuition-fees/ Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats has announced that scrapping tuition fees would remain one of the party’s most important policies.
In a letter to Liberal Democrat members he today he set out a timetable to scrap fees, including those for part-time courses, over the six years following the General Election. The letter in full:
Dear Friend
I’m writing to let you know some good news about the Liberal Democrat manifesto - good news for students and for everyone who wants a fairer Britain. This week the Party’s federal policy committee agreed a way to deliver one of our most important policies, the scrapping of unfair tuition fees. We’ve developed a plan to phase out tuition fees over the course of the next six years, to ensure this vital policy is affordable even at this time of economic crisis.

Slow progress at Copenhagen talks

There have been ongoing protests throughout the two-week conference on climate change in Copenhagen.  Talks remain deadlocked with just two days left to seal a global emissions pact.

Developed and developing nations remain at odds over who should cut emissions, how deep the cuts should be, and how much aid should go to poor countries.

But there has been some progress - wealthy nations pledged new funds to bankroll the war on global warming.   Read the full BBC report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8417541.stm

Income splitting for tax purposes back in the spotlight

New Zealand families may yet get a choice on how they choose to work and pay tax. United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne MP has announced the release of an issues paper looking at how income splitting might operate through an annual tax credit.

“Under income splitting, each partner in a relationship with children would be taxed on an equal share of their combined income, Revenue Minister and UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne said today in releasing the issues paper.

The first round of consultation last year sought feedback on what people thought of income splitting, and attracted more than 200 responses, most of them favourable.

“Because income taxes are progressive, with high incomes attracting a higher rate of tax than low incomes, many families might pay less tax, providing some financial assistance when one parent works full-time and the other chooses to stay at home to care for the children,” Mr Dunne said.

“The issues paper proposes having income splitting operate through an annual tax credit, and seeks people’s feedback on how well such a system would work for them,” Mr Dunne said.

“Inland Revenue would calculate the end-of-year tax credit, which would be based on any difference between the tax the couple would pay on an individual basis and the tax they would pay by splitting their income for tax purposes.

“To be eligible for the tax credit, couples would have to be married, civil union partners or de facto partners, be New Zealand residents, and be primarily responsible for the day-to-day care of a dependent child under 18.

“Financial considerations often play a large role in parents deciding whether both should continue to work full-time or one stays home to care for the children,” he said.

“Income splitting is one way of enabling parents to have greater choice in their work and caring roles, and also recognises the valuable role played by parents who choose to opt out of the workforce to raise their children.

“I urge all interested parties to have their say on the workability of the tax credit that is set out in the paper.

“Once we have received the public’s feedback on the details of the proposed mechanism for making income splitting a reality, the next step will be to introduce enabling legislation next year, a move that is provided for in the confidence and supply agreement between UnitedFuture and National,” Mr Dunne said.

The issues paper, “An income splitting tax credit for families with children” is available at www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz.

Submissions close on 5 February 2010.

http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/default,1291,dunne_unitedfutures_income_splitting_plans_take_shape.sm

Income-splitting plan gives families a tax break | Stuff.co.nz

Income-splitting plan gives families a tax break Stuff.co.nz
At last some recognition for the work performed by many thousands of parents (mainly women) who choose to invest time and work into raising their own children. Income splitting at least moves towards some recognition of the valuable, yet unpaid work undertaken by hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders year after year.

Beehive - Budget spending jumps 45 per cent in five years

Bill English has quoted Treasury papers Beehive - Budget spending jumps 45 per cent in five years to show that government spending has grown massively during the last few years. Government spending cannot keep growing inexorably - without a corresponding increase in revenues. There re only two ways to deal with this - either raise taxes or cut spending. The optimal answer is probably a combination of both and the sooner the better.

Johnsonville Needs Infrastructure Upgrade First

Proposed changes to the Wellington City Council District Plan risk exacerbating current traffic congestion problems in Johnsonville. The City Council is closing off public submissions on Friday 27th November - despite reports that it won't get around to hearing public submissions until May 2010. The question is why the hurry to stifle public debate?

Johnsonville today simply does not have the infrastructure required to support a large increase in infill housing. Our roads are congested at peak times, our on-street parking is already difficult to navigate and other services are also likely to come under pressure in the wake of a surge in population growth.

The Council should defer consideration of this proposal until more local residents have had an opportunity to comment. Many are unaware of the scale of change being proposed and the likely impact on the community. If sitting councillors are confident about the proposed changes then I invite them to test public opinion at the ballot box during next year's local body elections.