Govt responds to ‘squeezed middle’ critics with one-off $350 cost-of-living payments over winter for those not already getting winter energy payment and earning less than $70k/year
The $350 payment sounds pretty universal. The reporting focuses a lot on wage earners in the "squeezed middle", but I haven't seen anything that confirms/denies that this payment would also go to stay-at-home parents (whose partner for instance earns over $70k) and also to sole traders earning under $70k.
The Explanatory Note to the Taxation (Cost of Living Payments) Bill says that the $350 is based on $70K NET income, not gross income. Gross equivalent would be about $93k. If this is not an error, then what a sick joke to not pay beneficiaries 'because they don't need it' but give it people on up to $93k which is about 150% of the national median wage. Labour really is National lite.
The $350 payment sounds pretty universal. The reporting focuses a lot on wage earners in the "squeezed middle", but I haven't seen anything that confirms/denies that this payment would also go to stay-at-home parents (whose partner for instance earns over $70k) and also to sole traders earning under $70k.
Actually Henry Cooke said on Twitter that students would get the payment, so it must be universal
The Explanatory Note to the Taxation (Cost of Living Payments) Bill says that the $350 is based on $70K NET income, not gross income. Gross equivalent would be about $93k. If this is not an error, then what a sick joke to not pay beneficiaries 'because they don't need it' but give it people on up to $93k which is about 150% of the national median wage. Labour really is National lite.
Bernard, did the Budget have any $ provision for repairs/support needed after extreme climate events, e.g. the Levin tornado today.