Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Turner outlines areas for social progress

UnitedFuture's family spokesperson Judy Turner today outlined some of the significant areas of social policy that UnitedFuture would promote, if it forms part of the next government led by the National party.

"National is often regarded as cold-hearted, tight-fisted and downright mean when it comes to dealing with the less well-off. It will be United Future's job to ensure that help and resources get to those in greatest need and with as little bureaucratic interference as possible," she said.

"For example, grandparents looking after grandchildren because their children are too ill or drug-addicted to do the job. These people are under incredible financial and physical pressure, yet they receive less help from the State than foster parents.

"We also want to see balance brought back into the Family Court so that shared parenting is the default position where both parents indicate they want to play a part in raising their children.

"DNA testing must be allowed so that fathers who contribute to family support arrangements can be certain they are supporting their own children.

"The care of our elderly citizens would be greatly improved if there was pay parity between nurses employed by district health boards and those employed in resthomes.

"These are just some of the areas where UnitedFuture could knock the rough edges off National, if the voters give UnitedFuture the numbers to help it form the next government with National," concluded Mrs Turner.

ENDS

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