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School uniform bill to be debated

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School uniform bill to be debated

3News NZ

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Parliament is going to debate a bill that proposes a special benefit for orphans and other "unsupported children" so they can buy school uniforms.

NZ First MP Tracey Martin's member's bill has been drawn from the ballot and will go on the order paper for a first reading.

"It will finally give these vulnerable children the financial support they so desperately need," she said.

"I call on all political parties to fix this anomaly and help set these kids on the right path by supporting this bill."

Ms Martin says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has previously promised to support extra assistance for orphans.

Even if the bill becomes law it won't help children at the beginning of the new school year.

Parliament is adjourning next week for the summer recess and Ms Martin's bill won't come up for a first reading.

If it gets through that it will go to a select committee and then have to pass its second reading, committee stage and third reading.

Ms Martin is hoping it will get through quickly with Government support.

NZN

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Comments

11/12/2012 8:49:17 a.m.

Christine wrote:

School children in Australia receive School Kids Bonus twice a year to help reduce the cost of school expenses. I had to purchase my daughter's uniform, school stationery and text books levy fees as she starts high school for the first time (2013) before the end of the year. The cost added up to $850

11/12/2012 8:40:09 a.m.

Chris wrote:

@Greg.. Don't have children?? Well in your old age.. you won't getting a pension because the future children won't be paying tax to fund your retirement

10/12/2012 11:35:37 a.m.

Dan wrote:

How about no uniform? Uniforms came in when in my third to last year of primary school and I preferred not having uniforms. They didn't do anything apart from cost a lot. There was no safety issues involved, because parents usually drop their kids off at school and pick them up. No uniforms is the best and cheapest way.

10/12/2012 8:43:29 a.m.

Greg wrote:

Dont have children.

8/12/2012 6:21:26 a.m.

alison wrote:

@moral outrage, the payment caregivers get is hardly lucrative, and some parents do get family support to help with uniforms etc or winz grants. I would hope the checks done on caregivers and strict rules would deter most would be exploiters but as always nothing is foolproof. Orphans are not covered at present and this needs to be addressed. If Bennett was serious it would have been sorted before the new year. No excuses on this one.

7/12/2012 3:42:56 p.m.

moral outrage wrote:

CYF caregivers and other non parent care givers already get grants for everything plus other enormous allowances they make an income out of. While I am all for supporting children to provide them with all their needs and opportunities; why give non parental care givers more cash to exploit?? Parents don't get allowances for these things for their kids, any grant from WINZ is repayable and usually refused. All these extra allowances and payment make child removal a lucrative industry for those of an exploitative nature