|
Whatever our individual circumstances most of us usually want the same things in life - an affordable home, good health, a happy family, good education for our children, the chance to earn an honest living and to be part of a great community.
These core values have driven many of the achievements under a Labour-led government. We have kept our word to older New Zealanders - we've never promised more than we could deliver and we have delivered what we promised.
We have delivered on superannuation, health, housing, transport and asset testing. Our 2005 Budget continues to deliver even more benefits for older Kiwis.
In housing, we're acknowledging the pressures that higher property prices and rate increases put on many older ratepayers, so we're introducing a new rates rebate threshold. This revamped rebate scheme means that from 1 July 2006, up to 300,000 low income and older New Zealanders could get up to $500 off their annual rates bill. We're budgeting $50 million a year for this policy.
I have had several inquiries about this so it is worth noting that it will not come into effect until July next year.
We have given the Home Help Programme - helping some 6000 people a year around the home - an important $690,000 boost over four years to increase pay rates for home helpers.
We're putting significant funding into residential care and home-based services. We've made some important commitments to Superannuation over the last six years. We began with the decision to reverse the National government's cuts to superannuation, and to restore payments to not less than 65 percent of the average ordinary weekly wage for married couples.
This year's budget also brings in changes that allow about 2000 superannuitants to qualify for the higher Single Rate of NZ Super, and in some cases, for the Living Alone Payment. From 1 July next year we're extending the eligibility to the higher Single Rate of New Zealand Superannuation to all married superannuitants with a partner in long-term residential care. The total allocation of $6 million a year, also extends eligibility for the Living Alone payment to married superannuitants, as long as you meet other criteria. Partners in long-term residential care will still receive the married rate.
In our first term we set up the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to guarantee New Zealand Superannuation for future generations. This year's Budget invested another $2.1 billion in the fund, taking the total invested in the fund to close to $6.5 billion.
These are only some of the initiatives that deliver on our promises to improve opportunities, not just for older New Zealanders, but for all New Zealanders. When you take our list of achievements prior to this year into account, it is clear that our 2005 budget package of initiatives for older New Zealanders is comprehensive, and it supports the good work already accomplished.
I'm pleased Wairarapa is one of the first two of four Family Safety Teams aimed at reducing family violence launched last week. The $14.9 million, four-year Family Safety Team pilot has been set up to provide greater co-ordination between agencies responding to family violence situations.
It is a joint initiative involving Police, Ministry of Justice and Child Youth and Family Services in partnership with the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, Child Abuse Prevention Services, and the National Network of Stopping Violence Services.
The first two teams are being established in Wairarapa/Hutt Valley and Auckland/Hamilton. Further teams will be formed next year in Christchurch and Counties Manukau.
Each 10-member team will include a supervisor, three police investigators, three adult victim advocates and three child victim advocates.
Family violence is a serious social issue in New Zealand, and Police statistics show that almost half of all reported violent incidents, and half of all murders, involve family members.
At the same time, a lack of co-ordination and information sharing between agencies has been identified as a critical factor in high-profile domestic deaths over the past decade, such as those of James Whakaruru and Saliel Aplin and Olympia Jetson.
This pilot underlines the Government's commitment to strengthening public services.
Increasing support and providing a safer environment will help build stronger, better-functioning families, and lead to a reduction in family violence and related crimes.
An issue that has been discussed over the past few months is that of our country's nuclear-free status. Under the Labour-led government, New Zealand's nuclear free legislation will not be changed. Labour is proud of the law it passed in government in 1987.
New Zealanders gave strong support to our country becoming nuclear free because of strong opposition to nuclear weapons and environmental concern about nuclear power generation. Both reasons remain valid today. Nothing has changed in the external environment to cause Labour to change its mind on the wisdom of New Zealand's nuclear free status.
New Zealand's strong stand for nuclear disarmament and against nuclear weapons proliferation is to be valued in today's troubled world.
Finally congratulations to Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa district councils on their combined district plan.
This is something that will benefit our region so my thanks to all who have worked so hard to bring it to fruition.
|
|
|
