Rich Katherine: Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
Rich Katherine: Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:617;Page:13515] 
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
: 
 As I rise to speak on the title of the Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill I find it quite clear from the debate already on this bill that it is a totally inappropriate title. I ask the Minister in the chair Michael Cullen what sort of future direction he plans for this country when in fact we have seen that what is in this bill will lead more middle New Zealanders into dole queues and dependency on the State for handouts. The Minister is proud that he will make some families who now earn $80000 dependent on handouts from the Government. What sort of future will that be for our country? 
There is nothing in the legislation that is designed to retain some of our best and brightest New Zealanders who are leaving this country. There is nothing in the legislation that talks about growth or that provides a grand vision for creating a country that our children and our children’s children will want to stay in. There is nothing that will keep our doctors from going overseas to Australia our nurses from going to the UK or our social workers fleeing from the Department of Child Youth and Family Services to get better incomes overseas. There is nothing and that is why I think the Government is very disappointed that the reaction to this bill has been not quite what it would have expected. Dr Cullen thought his Budget would be welcomed with open arms but the response has been poor in some sectors. Many people have said there is nothing in it for them or for their families. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: How many? 
KATHERINE RICH 
: Four out of five New Zealanders have worked out there is nothing in the Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill that could make a skerrick of difference to their lives. I wonder if Dr Cullen has seen the headlines in today’s  
Otago Daily Times 
: “Budget on the never-never …” and “ ‘Battling NZers’ will have to wait” or the commentary that states: “… Michael Cullen may have squandered the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the New Zealand economy …”. This bill is about future directions and I think we have shown in our debate what a different opinion to Labour we have about the future direction for this country. We do not see that capturing middle-class New Zealanders to be dependent on State handouts is something to crow about. The Minister wants the country’s people to feel grateful for getting back what was their own money in the first place. 
That is why this is a “never-never” Budget. That is why it is not about future directions; it is about a direction down to the soup kitchen. That is why this bill is not about working for families. How can it be when four out of five families look at this Budget and say there is nothing in it for them? This is a Government that laboriously debated the definition of the family. “Family” was going to include almost anybody who had a psychological attachment to any other New Zealander. But in this bill a family is defined in terms of only those people who have children because they are the only people to benefit from this particular Budget. It does not matter if a young married couple just setting out and having to pay back a mortgage is trying to get ahead to reduce debt before having kids. There is nothing in the Budget for that couple. There is nothing in it for a young apprentice who has just left an apprenticeship and who is going out to work for the first time. His or her taxes will now be redirected to pay for some of the initiatives in this bill. 
This bill should not make middle-income New Zealanders increasingly dependent on the generosity of future Governments. That dependence is not something to be excited about; it is something to be embarrassed about. Families who earn $80000 are now being asked to go to the Government to get a handout—basically to get the taxes they have paid in the first place. This bill does not work for families. It is not about working for families; it is about four families working harder than ever to pay more for one family that may already be dependent on welfare. That is what this Budget is about. It is a welfare Budget. 
That is why the response from the community has not been overly excited. That is why most people can look at this Budget and say there is nothing in it for them—[ 
Interruption 
] If that member does not think that that is the case obviously he did not tune into the  
Holmes  
show 
last night where four out of five Kiwis said that the Budget did not do it for them—four out of five.