Budget’s health benefits impress
Rod and Melanie Brown, like many Kiwi families, had not given much thought to the Budget.
At a glance yesterday, the Christchurch couple were drawn to the healthcare announcement of $16.77 billion in 2017/18.
‘‘We’re pretty impressed by that,’’ Rod Brown said.
It was not surprising, given the family experienced the benefits of the country’s critical healthcare response first hand.
Their 3-year-old son, Harrison, was born in 2014 in Christchurch with a critical heart condition. He was flown to Starship Hospital via the Starship National Air Ambulance Service and, at 29 hours old, underwent a three-hour openheart surgery.
‘‘I don’t really complain about our tax anymore.’’
Brown said those in chronic pain, however, fell between the cracks.
‘‘Hopefully some of that goes to solving the wait lists that are out there.’’
Rod and Melanie Brown both work fulltime and do not qualify for Working for Families.
They could benefit from the tax threshold changes, which mean middle income families will have an average of $26 extra each week.
It did not mean much to the Brown family of three – soon to be four – ‘‘but was better than nothing’’.
‘‘It does seem to be a lolly scramble election year Budget to me. Low to middle income earners are the real winners. It’s an interesting tactical budget by National for an election year ... everyone is a winner overall with what we’ve got with the tax.’’
‘‘[The tax threshold changes] will be a big thing for a lot of people.’’
Rod Brown was impressed by the Government’s strategy to reduce debt for the country. He welcomed the $304 million for the country’s film industry.
‘‘The more movies that come here the better.’’
For Mel, who was 32 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child, there was one thing seriously missing from the Budget.
She would have liked paid parental leave extended from 18 weeks to 26, despite Prime Minister Bill English ruling it out before the Budget announcement.