The Working for Families package uses one policy instrument to attempt to achieve two aims, the result of this has been compromising of the aim to reduce child poverty with work requirements and incentives that discriminate against the population of children in families reliant on benefits. The Australian package provides family assistance based on income levels, irrespective of where this income is coming from which removes the possibility of discrimination while also ensuring those families most in need receive assistance.
New Zealand needs remove the discrimination from the Working for Families package that is found in the In Work Tax Credit and address child poverty as a standalone issue, not in conjunction with providing incentives to work. This will involve the removal of all work requirements from child based family assistance, essentially phasing out the In Work Tax Credit and increasing the Family Tax Credit.