FEDERAL Member for Bowman Henry Pike has launched a push to hear directly from Redlands families on how to make raising children in Australia easier, writing to thousands of young women across the region.
“The most important job in the nation is raising the next generation of Australians, yet families are often the least supported by current tax and policy settings,” Mr Pike said.
“Local families have told me that the cost of living is climbing faster than wages, mortgage repayments are eating into household budgets, and achieving work-life balance feels more out of reach than ever.”
Mr Pike said strong families were the foundation of a strong nation, and government policy should reflect that.
“Supporting mums, dads, and carers isn’t just social policy, it’s nation-building.”
To ease pressure on households, Mr Pike is developing three practical policy ideas: income splitting, a “Raising the Nation” tax break, and greater flexibility for the Federal Child Care Subsidy.
Income splitting would allow couples with a dependent to evenly split their income for tax purposes, preventing households from being hit with higher taxes when one partner earns more.
The proposed “Raising the Nation” tax break would double the tax-free threshold for parents with dependents from $18,200 to $36,400, delivering estimated tax savings of $5824 per year for the average Redlands household.
Mr Pike is also seeking feedback on giving parents more control over the Child Care Subsidy, allowing families to use it in the way that suits them best.
“These policies would make a real difference for households across the Redlands, recognising the unique challenges families face and offering genuine choice in how they raise their children,” he said.
“I’d love to hear more ideas from local families about how we can make raising children more affordable and family life a little easier.”
Redlanders can explore the proposals, test their household impact through an online calculator, and provide feedback at www.henrypike.com.au/strong_families.
