National says Government's plan to halve the number of kids in poverty is less ambitious than theirs

December 14, 2017

The opposition, however, says the families package is less ambitious than what it had proposed.

The opposition has criticised the Government's mini budget package aimed at tackling child poverty, saying it's less ambitious than National's own plan to deal with the issue.

The coalition Government says about 384,000 families will be better off by $75 a week under its families package.

It's estimated 88,000 children's lives will be turned around by the flagship policy which will cost $5.5 billion over the next five years.

"On all of our modelling, it looks like we will reduce child poverty by almost half," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

But National's finance spokesperson Steven Joyce says the previous government would have lifted more children out of poverty over the same period.

"The previous government's package lifted 50,000 young people out of poverty immediately when the package came into force. The Government are comparing that with 88,000. And that seems a lot better until you note the fine print - and they are not talking about till 2021," he said.

National has also criticised a $450 winter energy payment that'll go to all pensioners regardless of their wealth.

Treasury has confirmed the Labour-led Government's promises and coalition commitments can be met.

ACT leader David Seymour says the Government "is turning into a reverse Robin Hood that taxes everyone and gives a lot of benefits to the rich as well as the poor".

From July, Working for Families tax credits will go up by between $575 and $1400 a year, depending on the age and number of children.

Thirty-nine-thousand more families will be eligible for the credit by 2021.

There is also a $60 a week baby bonus for all newborns. 

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said it's "the most significant package to lift children out of poverty in recent memory". 

To pay for the package, the Government will reverse National's tax cuts, due to kick-in in April.

That will save $8 billion. The families package will cost $5.5 billion, leaving an extra $2.5 billion to spend on other things.

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