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16 August 2010
PRESS RELEASE ~~ PRESS RELEASE
At-Home Parents get their day in Parliament
A Bill to allow income splitting for couples raising children, is being introduced in Parliament today.
"This is big," says Christina Reymer, spokesperson for Parents As Partners, a lobby group campaigning for income splitting. "This Bill gives recognition for the unpaid work of parenting, which is still done largely by women".
"In 1893 we got the vote. Finally today, after 117 years, we get recognition for the unpaid work it has always been assumed women just 'do' for nothing."
Kate Sheppard in 1896 argued "That where a woman elects to superintend her own household, and be the mother of children, there shall be a law attaching a certain share of her husband's earnings or income for her separate use, payable, if she so desire it, into her separate account."
This is about at-home parents gaining economic independence. They will pay taxes as individuals on their own share of family income, and the status of "dependent" is finally removed from our lexicon.
"All parents work, but only some of it is paid. How they choose to divide their time between paid and unpaid work as individuals and as a couple is their business, and every couples' situation is different," argues Ms Reymer. Parents As Partners maintains that the income they earn should be shared equally them, as is their responsibility for the children, and their ownership of their house or whatever property they own as a family. "Why not the family income?" asks Ms Reymer.
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