Presenting an oral submission to the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

Posted on 2012-11-15 by Barbara

I have been thinking for awhile about how to approach the next stage of fighting this bill. I knew it had to be broken into two sections. The first before the end of the year and the 2nd next year leading up to the 2nd reading. It seemed that we woud loose momentum over the Christmas holidays so we would need to be careful how we approach this.

Well today it all became clear when I was rung about my opportunity to speak to my submissions to the Select Committee.

It would seem that all the oral submissions will be this year – later this month and early next month.

So the two pronged approach should be this:

1. For the rest of this year making oral submissions and lobbying all the members on the Social Services Select Committee. They have to make their report by 20 March 2013.

2. From the beginning of February lobby all MPs: List Of Members Of Parliament September 2012 especially those who might change their vote from the 1st reading.

1st reading votes:

Ayes 69	National 59; New Zealand First 8; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.
Noes 50	Labour 34; Green Party 13; Maori Party 2; Mana 1.

Public Hearing days in Auckland – Novotel at Auckland airport

30 November 9:00am-5:00pm (only one day)

Public Hearing days in Wellington – Parliament

28 November 9:00 – 10:00am and 3:30 – 6:00pm

3 December 9:ooam – 1:00pm and 2:00-5:00pm

5 December 9:00-1:00am and 3:30-6:00pm

These are public meetings so anyone can attend these meetings. The media might be at them as well.

Presenting oral submissions:

Now that they are beginning to call people in to speak to their submissions we need to think about getting prepared to do this. Remember that even if you can’t appear in person, you can make your oral submission by telephone or teleconference. They have some basic guidelines and advice for you as you prepare for your submission. Click here to read how to make an oral submission.

Interesting new research and links:

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 5 October 2012: One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

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Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill (and links)

Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

Social Services Select Committee members

Posted on 2012-11-05 by Barbara

I guess some of these will be the Select Committee members for the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/Default.htm?pf=CommitteeShortName&sf=Social+Services&lgc=0

Click on members name to access each member’s biography and contact detail page

Social Services	Member	Ardern, Jacinda	Labour Party, List
Social Services	Member	Bridges, Simon	National Party, Tauranga
Social Services	Deputy-Chairperson	Lee, Melissa	National Party, List
Social Services	Member	Logie, Jan	Green Party, List
Social Services	Member	Lole-Taylor, Asenati	NZ First, List
Social Services	Chairperson	Lotu-Iiga, Peseta Sam	National Party, Maungakiekie
Social Services	Member	Macindoe, Tim	National Party, Hamilton West
Social Services	Member	Ngaro, Alfred	National Party, List
Social Services	Member	Prasad, Rajen	Labour Party, List
Social Services	Member	Sabin, Mike	National Party, Northland
Social Services	Member	Sio, Su’a William	Labour Party, Mangere

I understand that Paula Bennett will not be on the Select Committee

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 5 October 2012: One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

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Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

1 1/2 hours left to get your submissions in plus Barbara Smith’s submission

Posted on 2012-11-01 by Barbara

For those still up

1 1/2 hours to get your submissions into the Select Committee

Barbara Smith’s submission
https://hef.org.nz/beneficiaries/submissions/barbara-smiths-submission/

Plus

Home Education Foundation’s submission

Samuel Blight’s submission

Family Integrity’s Submission

73 submision here now with more to still be put up: https://hef.org.nz/beneficiaries/submissions/

If you have not put in a submission please do so in the next 1 1/2 hours thankyou

Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

https://hef.org.nz/2012/make-a-submission-reject-compulsory-early-education-for-3-year-olds/

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Related Links:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 5 October 2012: One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

*******************************

Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

Media Release 11 – Parents Are Responsible for Education, Says HEF National Director

Posted on 2012-11-01 by Barbara

Media Release – Parents Are Responsible for Education, Says HEF National Director

November 1, 2012

Palmerston North, NZ – Barbara Smith, National Director of the Home Education Foundation (HEF) of New Zealand says that the new Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill will interfere in parental rights and responsibilities. The bill, which is now being considered by a Select Committee, is open for public online submissions until midnight tonight.

“Social obligations under the bill will make preschool, Well Child checks, and registration with a GP compulsory for all children of beneficiaries,” Mrs Smith says. “This is very serious because only parents have the right to make choices about health and education for their children. This right is backed up by several major international human rights treaties and our own Care of Children Act.”

But the issue isn’t just an academic question for Mrs Smith, who was widowed unexpectedly last year.

“I am a widow with eight children, the youngest of which has just turned 7,” Mrs Smith explains. “I am not on the widow’s benefit. My five older children are supporting me and my younger children.”

Mrs Smith says that this was not an easy decision to make. “After taxes, families and churches find it very difficult to look after the widows and fatherless. I have had people telling me that I am crazy not to take the widow’s benefit because, having paid my taxes, I am entitled to it.”

Nevertheless, Mrs Smith is convinced that she is not entitled to government help. “Historically the Church looked after widows and the fatherless. The Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy says that families should care for their own relations and that widows with no family support should be cared for by their church.”

But not all needy families have the support of friends and relations who will provide for them in times of hardship. “The government took on this role and now, because people are so used to paying compulsory taxes rather than giving free charity to their neighbours, the government needs to be very careful how it pulls out of supporting the needy.

“There are many families on the benefit for various reasons, who must rely on the government because nobody else is helping in this area right now.

“But they do not believe that getting government support means the government can tell them to make choices that would injure their children.”

Mrs Smith says she has spoken to hundreds of home educating parents who are concerned about the social obligations in the bill. “They want to continue home educating all their children, including the preschoolers, and they don’t want to be forced to send those children to schools because they understand that it is their responsibility to teach their children.”

This is not a responsibility that parents take lightly, says Mrs Smith. “Every parent has a sacred trust to teach and educate his children,” she says. “Scripture tells us that parents have been entrusted with their children to educate them, protect them, train them up, and prepare them for adulthood. Parents who do this are not abusing the government system – they are working at training up responsible adults.

“You might say that this is a lifestyle choice but we do not understand it as such. Many parents are grateful that the government provides schools and ECE for those parents who want to send their children to them. But parents still have the responsibility to decide what kind of education their child will receive, and where. The government must not take this responsibility away.

“Good parents know that they are morally responsible for their children. Don’t make them choose between the right thing and the legal thing. Don’t make them outlaws.”

Mrs Smith encourages all concerned Kiwis to make a submission to the Select Committee before submissions close at midnight (for online submissions) and at 5 pm (for mailed and delivered submissions) this evening, 1st November 2012. Materials for writing a submission can be found at www.hef.org.nz.

About the Home Education Foundation

The Home Education Foundation has been informing parents for 27 years about the fantastic opportunity to de-institutionalise our sons and daughters and to embrace the spiritual, intellectual and academic freedom that is ours for the taking. Through conferences, journals, newsletters and all kinds of personal communications, we explain the vision of handcrafting each child into a unique individual, complete with virtuous character, a hunger for service to others, academic acumen and a strong work ethic. For more information, please visit www.hef.org.nz or more specifically hef.org.nz/2012/make-a-submission-reject-compulsory-early-education-for-3-year-olds/

This has alread appeared:

Scoop: Parents Are Responsible for Education, Says HEF Director

Voxy: Parents are responsible for education, says HEF

To learn more about this bill, please contact

Barbara Smith
National Director
PO Box 9064
Palmerston North 4441
New Zealand
ph. 06 357-4399
06 354-7699
Barbara@hef.org.nz