Facts speak for themselves

The National-led Government has always had a clear economic plan, and Budget 2015 reinforced this.

Economic growth is forecast to average 2.8 per cent over the next four years. We have put in place the macro-economic conditions that have created 190,000 jobs since 2011 and forecasts show 150,000 more over the next four years. Average wages have increased by 15 per cent – and unemployment is forecast to fall below 5 per cent next year.

National wants the best for hard-working Kiwis and their families and Budget 2015 does this.

The value of a job goes well beyond the simple fact of ‘‘having a job’’. The social value of work is often not taken into account.

All the research shows that a job provides money, boosts living standards and provides a way out of poverty or to avoid poverty. A job improves health and wellbeing. A job provides social contact and contributes to social cohesion. A job contributes to life satisfaction and to society. Moving to paid work is the best way to lift more families out of poverty.

Budget 2015 includes a $790m package to reduce hardship among children in New Zealand’s poorest families, as the next step in the Government’s commitment to address the longterm drivers of deprivation. The Government is supporting these families into work by increasing the childcare assistance rate for low-income families.

The rate will increase from $4 an hour to $5 an hour for up to 50 hours of childcare a week per child. This will lower the cost of childcare for around 40,000 lowincome working families, and reduce barriers for those parents moving off welfare into work.

Those low-income families who need extra support are going to get it through changes to Working for Families.

For those who need support, National will deliver a $25-a-week after-tax rise in benefit rates for families with children – a real increase in benefits, and the first Government to do so in 40 years.

In total, National has delivered again for New Zealand, while we continue to maintain our fiduciary responsibility for sensible management of government finances.

There will always be those who complain no matter what great projects the Government puts forward. However, the facts speak otherwise and this Budget shows we want better outcomes and opportunities for New Zealanders and their families and we are not afraid to deliver them.

Sarah Dowie is the National MP for Invercargill