by Bryan Bruce, Knowledge is Power
Last week I surveyed all the political parties on where they stood on 10 issues directly or indirectly related to child well-being in New Zealand.
They were asked which of them they would or would not support in principle should it come to a vote in the upcoming parliament.
Bill English on behalf of National refused to take part in the survey saying the questions were ‘hypothethical”.
National are also now the only party not to commit to cross-party talks after the election to see if some long term solutions to issues surrounding child poverty can be found.
Some parties chose to give ‘No Answer’ to some of the questions because their party had not yet formed a view. National’s refusal to respond has also been listed as ‘No Answer’ …..
1. Warrant of fitness to be compulsory for all rental properties within three years.
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party
Labour
Mana
NZ First
Maori Party United Future
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
Conservative Party
NO ANSWER
National
2. Progressively extend the paid parental leave period to 12 months within the next six years.
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party
Labour
Mana
NZ First
United Future
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Conservative Party
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
Maori Party
3. Free healthy lunches to be made available to all school children within the next 6 years. The scheme to be introduced first to decile 1, 2 and 3 schools and then rolled out progressively up to decile 10 schools.
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party
Mana
NZ First
Maori Party
United Future
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
Labour
ACT
Conservative Party
NO ANSWER
National
4. Free 24 hour medical care be made available to all children and young people up to, and including, the age of 18 within the next three years.
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party
Maori Party
Mana
NZ First
United Future
Alliance
Conservative Party
Democrats for Social Credit
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
NO ANSWER
National
Labour
5. One health nurse for every 300 school children and a free doctor visit to schools once a week
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party Mana
Maori Party United Future
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
NO ANSWER
Conservative Party
Labour
National
NZ First
6. Create low interest initiatives to allow families to build or buy affordable healthy housing.
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party
Labour
Mana
NZ First
Maori Party United Future
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Conservative Party
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
NO ANSWER
National
7. The introduction of a “living wage” rather than a “minimum” wage?
WOULD SUPPORT
Green Party Labour
Mana
Maori Party
Alliance
Internet Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
Conservative Party
Democrats For Social Credit
United Future
NO ANSWER
NZ First
National
8. Remove GST from food.
WOULD SUPPORT
Mana
Maori Party
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Conservative Party
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
Green Party
Labour
United Future
NO ANSWER
Internet Party
NZ First
National
9. Repurchase the electricity system to be run as a public utility and not for profit?
WOULD SUPPORT
Mana
NZ First
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
WOULD NOT SUPPORT
ACT
Green Party
Labour
Maori Party
United Future
NO ANSWER
Conservative Party
Internet Party
National
10. Does your Party undertake to take part in cross party talks after the election to reach long term solutions to child poverty related issues?
YES
Green Party
Labour
Mana
NZ First
Maori Party United Future
ACT
Alliance
Democrats for Social Credit
Conservative Party
Internet Party
NO ANSWER
National
Source: Knowledge is Power
See also: www.facebook.com/InsideChildPoverty
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