22 March 2013

The Hon Peter Dunne

Parliament Office
Private Bag 18888
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON 6160

peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz, ohariu.mp@parliament.govt.nz

Dear Sir,

Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

We are writing on behalf of the parents across New Zealand who have contacted us with fears that the Social Security Amendment Bill will destroy their freedom to make choices in the best interest of their children.

We agree that welfare needs reform, that it needs to be a “hand up rather than a hand-out”.

Unfortunately, National have smuggled social obligations into this Bill which will harm families and give the government the right to choose the most appropriate provider of pre-school education for children. We are very concerned about this for two basic reasons.

First, it will limit beneficaries’ choices about their children and give the government control over preschool education for beneficiaries. It will cause stress and hardship for people already in a bad situation, and prevent parents from fulfilling their role as the first teachers of their children in a way that is appropriate to their own family situation.

Second, giving the government control over preschool education for beneficiaries is prima facie discrimination according to the submission of the New Zealand Law Society. According to the Law Society, if you insist on government control of preschool education for beneficiaries, you must insist on government control of preschool education for everyone. Our concern is not only for the many beneficiary families whom this legislation will force to make choices against their better judgement, but also for all New Zealand families if this government intervention becomes normative.

According to the United Future website, the guiding principles of the party include self-reliance, personal responsibility, and independence. We applaud United Future for taking this stand, and we are writing to you today to ask you to uphold this stand.

Parents have the responsibility to make decisions about their children’s education. Government intervention in this area is unnecessary: the voluntary early childhood education attendance rate is 90% among 3-year-olds and 95% among 4-year-olds. Many of the remaining percentage do not attend ECE either because there is no appropriate provider in their area, or because their parents passionately believe in providing quality ECE in their own homes.

The parents of these children should not need government permission to continue teaching their children in the way most appropriate to them and their family.

We understand that the welfare system needs reform. But it should not be at the expense of liberty. True reform will give people more responsibility, not make them more dependent on government approval and direction.

At the Third Reading of this Bill, parents all over New Zealand will be looking to United Future to stand up for the principles of individual responsibility and parental choice in education.

On behalf of these parents, we ask you to vote against the Bill at its Third Reading if it contains the Social and Work Obligations and Sanctions.

Yours faithfully,

The Home Education Foundation of New Zealand

per:

Barbara Smith

National Director