# Question 23: We own a home with a mortgage, have school-age children and rely on two wages. After mortgage payments, rates, power and groceries, there is little buffer. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What are the parties proposing about household costs, and which proposals would actually apply to a working family like ours? Collected 23 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: d130d377-c23d-4fdb-8b1b-dadc019f7682 Worked for 51s Searching the web Searching the web Searching the web Searching the web Searching the web # New Zealand election 2026: what could change your household budget? For a family with a mortgage, school-age children and two incomes, the important question isn't simply which party promises to reduce the cost of living. It's which policies would put more money in your bank account, which would reduce specific bills, and which might help only if your circumstances meet certain eligibility rules. I'll focus on nationwide policies relevant to households like yours, rather than assuming you're in a particular city. I'll also distinguish between policies that are already in place, proposals announced for the 2026 election, and claims that still need detail before their financial effect can be calculated. Your main pressure points are likely to be: - Mortgage: interest rates, refinancing and any proposed housing or tax changes. - Everyday bills: electricity, groceries, petrol and local council rates. - Children: school costs, childcare, family tax credits and healthcare. - Take-home pay: income tax, Working for Families, benefits and other targeted assistance. - Financial resilience: whether a policy helps you build a buffer or mainly offers temporary relief. One important distinction: a policy can be good for the economy overall without delivering much immediate relief to a household that is already working, paying a mortgage and receiving little means-tested assistance. ## 1. The main parties: what their proposals could mean for you The following reflects the policies I could verify as announced by 22 October 2026. Election promises are not yet guaranteed household savings: legislation, eligibility conditions, implementation dates and coalition negotiations matter. ![Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/LCDs4P76HEgfCayafHeSga8GCw12Vxs2fPc3toeyLUZ-wmb6UiGRZY6bhdT1xRejtICfUd6GX2BWmI76EkpoWuffTU4g32bP_qUJp29rsfn5_Zvj5THHSYTLHSoo_5_YQyZ3zKE1WIpB4bu7raRltFl5TZFCgCcE0quf_GohkFI?purpose=inline) ## National Party Emphasis: lower taxes, competition and economic growth - Power: proposes more electricity generation and competition, a review of lines charges, and a Home Energy Fund offering low-interest, long-term loans for household energy upgrades. - Groceries: proposes separating New World and PAK’nSAVE ownership to increase competition between them. - Rates: proposes refocusing councils on core services and keeping rates affordable. - Your household: the energy plan could help if you can afford upgrades or already generate solar power. Grocery and rates benefits would depend on whether the reforms actually reduce prices or bills. There is no new general income-tax cut among the headline commitments verified here. [Affordable power Kiwis can rely on](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/electrify-nz-2)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies) Sources: [National's election policies](https://www.national.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [Affordable power plan](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/electrify-nz-2?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline) ## Labour Party Emphasis: reducing everyday costs and consumer charges - Transport: proposes a public-transport fare cap of $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 elsewhere, targeted for 1 July 2027. - Health: proposes three free GP visits a year and free prescriptions from 1 July 2027. - Power: proposes SolarSaver, allowing eligible households to install solar without paying the upfront cost. - Fuel and groceries: proposes freezing fuel tax for three years and measures to tackle supermarket pricing and hidden consumer fees. - Your household: the health and transport proposals could directly reduce expenses if you use those services. SolarSaver could help if your home is suitable. The fuel-tax freeze matters more if you drive regularly. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)[Labour's SolarSaver](https://www.labour.org.nz/solarsaver)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy) Source: [Labour's 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/xwoeA3rTn5Pu0UL1uRc6X_g8ADsfUTe55rxQEjXC_rnFR_6TPTr_9eG0LsowNOdFRtax24qB8h-LRfUtZEf42T0CC5OclOZ5katbFJAYxs0cZRyqDBlGNgF_8AV_5WTCbYonGIqLGuK095lLGrkBVw3L8vdsA06tLHVNuCJquuc?purpose=inline) ## Green Party Emphasis: tax changes, public services and reducing inequality - Income tax: proposes making the first $10,000 of income tax-free. It says 96% of New Zealanders would pay less income tax under its plan. - Funding: proposes a 2.5% tax on net assets above $10 million, excluding the family home, along with inheritance and large-company tax changes. - Your household: if both adults earn taxable wages, the tax-free threshold could reduce your income tax. The exact household gain depends on each person's income and the final tax rules. Owning an ordinary family home would not by itself trigger the proposed wealth tax. [A tax system for all of us](https://www.greens.org.nz/tax_system_for_all)[Greens propose wealth, inheritance taxes to fund income tax changes](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/21/greens-propose-wealth-inheritance-taxes-to-fund-income-tax-changes/) Sources: [Greens' tax plan](https://www.greens.org.nz/tax_system_for_all?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [1News policy breakdown](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/21/greens-propose-wealth-inheritance-taxes-to-fund-income-tax-changes/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline) ## New Zealand First Emphasis: direct support for working families and annual minimum-wage increases - Working for Families: proposes making the temporary $50-a-week in-work tax credit boost permanent and adding another $70 a week, for a total of $120 a week. - Minimum wage: commits to annual increases of at least the rate of inflation. - Your household: the in-work tax credit proposal is particularly relevant to parents in paid work, but you would need to meet the programme's eligibility and income rules. It is not an unconditional $120 payment to every working household. [Increasing Working for Families and Minimum Wage](https://www.nzfirst.nz/increasing_working_for_families_and_minimum_wage)[Our Policy](https://www.nzfirst.nz/policy) Source: [NZ First's Working for Families proposal](https://www.nzfirst.nz/increasing_working_for_families_and_minimum_wage?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![POLICY TRACKER: TOP wants to fund cheaper doctor visits with junk-food tax | New Zealand Doctor](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/K1DpIS-dF4mtKrl0KIyfSnF_8RO2gnoDtATKXcH-ytfTo6cgmA_wwVhD8J5hW6OuytxDrAergQSGimCSsVKfunUK61RDtNU5GxwiaPB_cRB685VjK9FjkZErmrrvx_4zTP2h6GpckCQVzANm4LVdUE3kTNzzpmgwLxBt7L_7t70?purpose=inline) ## ACT New Zealand Emphasis: lower taxes, less regulation and spending restraint - ACT's economic approach centres on reducing government spending and tax burdens, with its election fiscal plan emphasising cutting spending it regards as wasteful. - It has also argued against climate policies that it says make petrol, power and food more expensive. - Your household: any direct benefit depends on the final tax measures and your income. The argument for lower regulation and energy costs is mainly about changing incentives and supply, rather than providing a guaranteed weekly payment to a family like yours. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/acts-fiscal-plan-cuts-the-waste-to-grow-the-country)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/scrap-net-zero-cut-the-carbon-tax) Sources: [ACT's fiscal plan](https://www.act.org.nz/news/acts-fiscal-plan-cuts-the-waste-to-grow-the-country?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [ACT on carbon costs](https://www.act.org.nz/scrap-net-zero-cut-the-carbon-tax?utm_source=chatgpt.com) These are five parties, not the full ballot. Other parties, including Te Pāti Māori and the Opportunity Party, also have proposals on taxation and family finances. The differences between the parties' tax approaches are summarised in [KPMG New Zealand's 2026 election tax tracker](https://kpmg.com/nz/en/insights/tax/summary-of-2026-election-tax-policies.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com). [Summary of 2026 election tax policies](https://kpmg.com/nz/en/insights/tax/summary-of-2026-election-tax-policies.html)[NZ party policies 2026: Tax, KiwiSaver and cost of living compared](https://nztimes.nz/nz-party-policies-2026/) ## 2. Which proposals are most likely to apply to a working family like yours? This is where the detail matters. A family can earn two wages and still have little disposable income, but some support is based on income thresholds rather than how much is left after the mortgage. | Household pressure | Policies to examine | What determines whether you benefit? | | --- | --- | --- | | Mortgage repayments | Tax changes, interest rates, housing supply | Your mortgage balance, interest rate, refix date and individual incomes | | Council rates | National's rates proposals | How councils change spending and revenue; a promise to constrain rates isn't automatically a lower bill | | Electricity | National's Home Energy Fund; Labour's SolarSaver | Home suitability, loan or programme eligibility, installation costs and eventual savings | | Groceries | National's supermarket competition plan; Labour's grocery measures | Whether competition and enforcement translate into lower prices | | Fuel and commuting | Labour's fuel-tax freeze and public-transport cap | How much you drive, your location and your current travel costs | | Children's costs | Working for Families, in-work tax credit, school-related measures | Number and ages of children, combined family income and current entitlements | | Doctor and prescription costs | Labour's proposed free visits and prescriptions | How often your family needs care and when the policies begin | | Take-home pay | Greens' proposed tax-free threshold; other parties' tax policies | Each adult's taxable income and how the proposals interact with existing tax rules | Sources: party policy pages linked above. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)[Affordable power Kiwis can rely on](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/electrify-nz-2)[Increasing Working for Families and Minimum Wage](https://www.nzfirst.nz/increasing_working_for_families_and_minimum_wage)[A tax system for all of us](https://www.greens.org.nz/tax_system_for_all) ### A particularly important check: Working for Families Before comparing future election promises, check whether you already qualify for all the assistance available under current rules. - Working for Families depends on family income, children's circumstances and the type of payment. - In-work tax credit eligibility depends on working and family circumstances, and the rules differ from those for the family tax credit. - Accommodation Supplement eligibility depends on income, assets, housing costs and location; owning a home with a mortgage does not automatically make you eligible. - School-related assistance and health subsidies have their own eligibility conditions. The fact that both adults work does not automatically rule you out of every form of assistance. Equally, having a large mortgage does not necessarily increase your eligibility, because mortgage payments are not generally deducted from income for these tests. You can check current entitlements through [Work and Income](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and [Inland Revenue's Working for Families information](https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families?utm_source=chatgpt.com). One timely example is the existing Government's temporary increase to the in-work tax credit in response to higher fuel costs. National's published information says eligible working families receive an extra $50 a week for up to a year, subject to the scheme's conditions. NZ First's proposal would make that boost permanent and increase the total further. If your family qualifies, the distinction between current temporary assistance and a future permanent commitment could matter immediately. [Cost of living relief](https://www.national.org.nz/col)[Increasing Working for Families and Minimum Wage](https://www.nzfirst.nz/increasing_working_for_families_and_minimum_wage) ## 3. What about Te Pāti Māori and the Opportunity Party? Two other parties are worth including if you're comparing the broader tax debate. - Te Pāti Māori: proposes more substantial changes to taxation and public support, including a wealth-tax approach. The key question for your household is how its proposed income-tax and family-support changes would interact with your wages and home ownership. - The Opportunity Party (TOP): proposes a land-tax-based tax reset and a universal basic income approach. For a homeowner, the important issue would be whether any additional land-tax liability is offset by the proposed income or basic-income payments. These are structural changes, rather than simply promises to freeze a bill or increase an existing tax credit. Their net effect would depend on the final design, rates, exemptions and transition arrangements. [NZ party policies 2026: Tax, KiwiSaver and cost of living compared](https://nztimes.nz/nz-party-policies-2026/)[Summary of 2026 election tax policies](https://kpmg.com/nz/en/insights/tax/summary-of-2026-election-tax-policies.html) ## 4. How to compare the promises in actual dollars I would use three separate calculations rather than relying on a party's headline figure. A. Immediate cash-flow change Add any income-tax reductions, extra tax credits and payments you're eligible for. Subtract any extra employee contributions or other new household costs. B. Savings on essential bills Estimate the effect on power, fuel, transport, groceries, GP visits and prescriptions using what you actually spend. Treat future price reductions as uncertain until there is a credible mechanism and estimate. C. Timing and reliability Separate benefits available now from proposals that might start in 2027 or later. Also distinguish guaranteed eligibility under enacted rules from campaign promises that still require legislation. For a household already stretched by mortgage payments, a $20 weekly reduction in an ongoing bill is worth $1,040 a year. A $20 weekly increase in take-home income has the same arithmetic value, but only if you qualify and the payment actually arrives. Neither should be confused with a one-off payment or a projected reduction in future prices. ## 5. Let's make this specific to your family I can turn the party proposals into a more meaningful household comparison if you share a few approximate figures. You don't need to provide identifying information. Optional household estimate · NZD per year unless stated otherwise These estimates won't account for every tax deduction, benefit or policy interaction. You can use rounded figures or leave the optional electricity amount blank. The aim is to see which announced measures could plausibly change your family's annual disposable income, which depend on eligibility, and which are longer-term ambitions rather than immediate relief. That gives you a more useful basis for weighing the parties' proposals against your own priorities without assuming that any one party's approach is automatically right for you. ## Gemini Answer ID: ce559f5b-0245-453c-95ad-be4d22a0a8cf For a dual-income working family with a mortgage, school-age children, and a tight buffer after covering fixed costs (mortgage, rates, power, and groceries), the cost-of-living and household budget debate is central to the 2026 New Zealand general election. Political parties have staked out distinct territory on how to ease pressure on household budgets, splitting broadly between tax-cut/fiscal restraint approaches and service-expansion/targeted relief models. --- ### What the Parties are Proposing for Household Costs #### 1. National & ACT (The Coalition Government Direction) * **Core Philosophy:** Focuses on fiscal restraint, curbing government spending, and broad-based or income tax adjustments rather than funding large-scale free public services. * **Key Cost Policies:** Continued restraint on public sector spending to lower inflation pressures, alongside previous adjustments like personal income tax threshold shifts. ACT advocates deeper income tax restructuring (such as a two-rate structure) to boost take-home pay, while National has focused on easing regulations and supporting first-home buyer schemes. #### 2. Labour Party * **Core Philosophy:** Relies heavily on reducing direct out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and daily essentials by expanding public service access. * **Key Cost Policies:** * Free GP visits (via a "Medicard" scheme) and free prescriptions. * Free maternity scans and specific healthcare expansions. * A **$20 public transport fare cap** to lower commuting costs. * Has ruled out broad new capital taxes outside of a specific capital gains tax framework (excluding the family home). #### 3. The Green Party * **Core Philosophy:** Large-scale public investment funded by wealth taxes on high-net-worth individuals to dramatically lower everyday expenses for working families. * **Key Cost Policies:** * Free public transport, free dental care, and free early childhood education (ECE). * Introducing a 2.5% annual wealth tax on net assets above $10 million (with the family home explicitly exempt) to pay for these services. #### 4. New Zealand First * **Core Philosophy:** Targeted relief and nationalist economic structural changes. * **Key Cost Policies:** Previous support for targeted in-work tax credits, cutting bureaucratic waste (such as slashing consultant spending), and investigating banking sector changes (like expanding Kiwibank) to increase market competition. #### 5. Te Pāti Māori & The Opportunities Party (TOP) * **Te Pāti Māori:** Proposes a $30,000 tax-free income threshold, removing GST from all food, and a progressive wealth tax starting at net wealth above $2 million (which *does not* exempt the family home once the threshold is crossed). * **TOP:** Proposes a land value tax on urban/rural land to fund a universal tax-free citizen's income and targeted service expansions for younger demographics. --- ### Which Proposals Would Actually Apply to Your Family? Given that your primary pressures are **mortgage servicing, power, groceries, and school-age children**, specific proposals directly intersect with your monthly ledger: * **Healthcare & Prescription Costs (Labour):** If your family frequently visits the doctor or manages routine prescriptions for children, Labour’s policy of **free GP visits and free prescriptions** would directly remove a recurring out-of-pocket medical expense from your budget. * **Transport & Commuting (Labour / Greens):** If you or your partner commute to work using public transport, Labour's **$20 fare cap** or the Greens' push for **free public transport** would immediately free up cash. If you are entirely reliant on private vehicles due to regional infrastructure, these transport policies provide little direct relief. * **Grocery & Food Costs (Te Pāti Māori / NZ First):** Proposals to **remove GST from basic foods** (championed by parties like Te Pāti Māori) would directly lower weekly supermarket receipts at checkout. Broad tax-cut approaches (National/ACT) aim to leave more of your gross two-wage income in your pocket to manage groceries independently, though the net impact depends heavily on how tax thresholds align with your household income. * **The Family Home & Wealth Taxes (Greens / Te Pāti Māori / TOP):** * If your main asset is your family home and you do not hold multi-million dollar liquid wealth, the Greens' wealth tax explicitly **exempts the family home**. * Conversely, Te Pāti Māori’s wealth tax proposal counts total net assets (including equity in a family home once net worth crosses $2 million), which could impact middle-class homeowners in high-property-value regions. * **Interest Rates and the Mortgage:** None of the political parties directly set the Official Cash Rate (OCR) or mortgage interest rates, as monetary policy is independently managed by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). However, parties differ on fiscal policy: centre-right parties argue that cutting government spending cools inflation faster (potentially helping interest rates ease sooner), while centre-left parties argue that direct cost-of-living subsidies provide immediate relief without worsening structural inflation. Are you looking to prioritize policies that lower specific day-to-day bills (like healthcare or transport), or are you more focused on broad tax relief for your combined wages? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: d5f5ffbe-4c25-4723-a1bf-51dfbb68b982 For a dual-income working family with a mortgage, school-age children, and a tight post-expense buffer, the 2026 general election pitches from the major political parties offer distinct approaches to household budgets. The major parties’ core proposals concerning household costs (groceries, power, transport, and tax/income relief) and how they apply to your specific situation are outlined below: * * * **1\. National Party** * * **The Proposals:** * Focuses on maintaining existing personal income tax relief and previous Working for Families boosts implemented during the term. * Cost-of-living measures targeting structural drivers like grocery sector competition (pushing for supermarket structural separation/divestment to crack down on duopoly pricing). * Infrastructure and energy reforms backing more renewable energy generation to ease long-term commercial and household power costs. * Mortgage/Housing-adjacent policies include supporting 5% first-home deposits for buyers (less relevant if you already own, but affects broader market stability) and streamlined building consents. * **What applies to you:** If you already receive Working for Families or family tax credits, you remain in the framework of current thresholds. The primary direct savings would come via lowered regulatory pressure on fuel/energy and any tangible drop at the checkout if grocery market interventions succeed in lowering food inflation. [National Party] * * * * **2\. Labour Party** * * **The Proposals:** * **Healthcare & Pharmacy:** Free prescriptions and "Medicard" offering three free GP visits, free cervical screening, and free maternity scans, which directly lowers out-of-pocket health costs for families. * **Transport & Energy:** A $ 20 weekly public transport cap and a "SolarSaver" scheme to help households install solar panels to lower electricity bills. * **Grocery & Banking:** Policies targeted at fairer grocery pricing and fairer banking/data transparency to curb hidden fees. * **Tax:** Imposing a capital gains tax ( 28 % ) on investment property profit (excluding the family home), while contrasting against National's tax settings. * **What applies to you:** The free prescriptions and doctor visit subsidies under Medicard offer direct, predictable cash-flow relief for families with kids who frequently visit the GP. The $ 20 public transport cap helps if your family utilizes urban public transit, and SolarSaver/grocery reforms directly target your heavy fixed costs (power and food). * * * * **3\. Green Party** * * **The Proposals:** * **Tax Overhaul:** A tax-free income threshold on the first $ 10 , 000 of earnings, designed to cut income tax for 96 % of earners. This is funded by a 2.5 % net asset wealth tax on individuals with net assets above $ 10 million (with the family home explicitly exempt) and a 33 % corporate tax rate on the top 0.7 % largest corporations. * **Energy:** "Kiwipower" and energy market reforms focused on lowering household electricity bills. * **Living Costs:** Policies aimed at universally affordable living and baseline financial security. * **What applies to you:** The $ 10 , 000 tax-free income tier would put extra cash directly into the pockets of both wage earners in your household through reduced income tax deductions. Lower power bill proposals via Kiwipower would target your monthly utility costs. * * * * **4\. ACT Party** * * **The Proposals:** * Focuses heavily on broader government spending restraint, reducing red tape, and cutting back-office public expenditure to create room for deeper, broad-based income tax reduction over time. * Emphasises market-led solutions and regulatory removal to lower costs of production, building, and goods rather than targeted subsidies. * **What applies to you:** Indirect relief through macro-economic restraint and a general downward pressure on inflation and government-driven cost adjustments, though it offers fewer specific, immediate cash-in-hand family rebates compared to Labour or the Greens. * * * * **Summary: Which proposals match your household?** * * **If you want immediate relief on out-of-pocket family health and transport expenses:** Labour’s _Medicard_ (free GP visits/prescriptions) and public transport caps offer tangible cuts to recurring family medical and travel costs. [NZ Labour Party] * **If you want direct extra take-home pay via the tax system:** The Green Party’s proposed tax-free personal income threshold ( $ 10 , 000 ) directly increases net wages for both working parents. * **If you are looking for relief via everyday living essentials (groceries and power stability):** Both National and Labour feature market-intervention policies aimed at breaking up grocery pricing and stabilizing energy/power infrastructure costs, though execution timelines and ultimate savings at the checkout vary. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 5c889228-74a8-4b4f-9b4f-aedeab5144d6 For a tight, two-income household with a mortgage and school-age children, the political parties in the 2026 general election offer two fundamentally contrasting paths to tackle your living costs. **The National-ACT coalition focuses on lowering inflation through government spending cuts and a strict "no new taxes" pledge, while the Labour-Greens opposition promises direct subsidies for healthcare, transport, and energy funded by new property and wealth taxes**. Here is how their flagship proposals would practically apply to your family’s specific household expenses. * * * 🏛️ National & ACT (Incumbent Coalition Approach) The governing parties argue that the best way to lower your mortgage and grocery bills is to contract the size of the state to curb inflation. * **Taxes:** Strict commitment to **no new taxes** during the next term. * **Groceries:** Pledging a supermarket chain split to increase market competition. * **ACT Tax Cuts:** Proposing a flattened two-rate income tax with a 28% top bracket. * **Household Bills:** Implementing council rate caps to prevent sudden local hikes. * **Fuel:** Delaying fuel excise tax increases to prevent immediate pump hikes. **What actually applies to you:** If you earn typical wages, ACT’s tax brackets could alter your take-home pay, while National's focus remains on keeping your mortgage interest rates stable by slowing down public debt. * * * 🌹 Labour & The Greens (Opposition Block Approach) The centre-left parties propose shielding families from day-to-day bills through direct, government-funded relief programs. * **Healthcare:** Labour promises a "Medicard" providing **three free GP visits** annually. * **Prescriptions:** Reintroducing completely free prescriptions for all households. * **Fuel Tax:** A locked **three-year freeze** on fuel excise taxes. * **Public Transport:** Capping commuter fares to a maximum of **$20 weekly**. * **Power Bills:** "SolarSaver" loans and subsidies to reduce home electricity bills. * **Greens Extension:** Funding universal free dental care and free public transport. * **Funding Mechanism:** Paid via a new **28% Capital Gains Tax** on investment properties (your family home is exempt) and a 2.5% wealth tax on assets over $10 million. **What actually applies to you:** Your family home is fully protected from the proposed property taxes. You would likely see immediate weekly savings on school-age kids' transport, family doctor visits, and fuel costs. * * * 📊 Direct Comparison: Impact on Your Tight Budget Cost Category| National / ACT Policy| Labour / Green Policy ---|---|--- **Mortgage & General Inflation**| Lower government spending to pressure interest rates down.| Targeted spending; risk of higher debt affecting rates. **Income Tax & Levies**| Keep current tax rules or lower brackets (ACT).| No income tax changes, but your family home remains exempt from CGT. **Healthcare & School Expenses**| Focus on public sector efficiency and core schooling hours.| 3 free GP visits, free prescriptions, and cheaper school commutes. **Power, Fuel & Groceries**| Delayed fuel tax hikes and capped council rates.| 3-year fuel tax freeze and SolarSaver home energy assistance. * * * To help look closer at how these changes might impact your cash flow, let me know: * Your estimated **combined household income** bracket * How much you roughly spend on **fuel and public transport** each week * How often your family visits the **doctor or pharmacy** I can help map out a clearer picture of your potential weekly savings under either choice.