New Zealanders living overseas are unhappy with plans to charge returnees up to $3000 for two weeks in managed isolation.
Some agree that a fee should be charged, but say politicians need to consider each person's circumstances, rather than demanding a blanket fee.
Mitch Nganeko is teaching in London, and says he simply would not have the money to pay for quarantine when he returned.
He hopes to use his KiwiSaver fund to pay the bill if it is in place when he is due to return in November.
Cabinet will today discuss whether or not to charge returning New Zealanders for quarantine, but a final decision on any payment is unlikely.
The minister responsible for managed isolation and quarantine, Megan Woods told Morning Report: "There won't be a final decision today but we've been signalling for many, many weeks now that charging for managed isolation and quarantine is something that we need to consider.
"It's very complex. There's a range of legal equity implementation issues that we've had to work our way through."
Asked if charging is legal, Woods says: "We've been working closely with the Crown's lawyer on this because ... that's one of the critical issues that we need to look at. Of course, all Kiwis have the right to come home and we all want to know that if we're overseas we can get home.
"We need to make sure that any charging regimes wouldn't be an impediment. We are working through the Crown law."
Part of the work involved is looking at options for people who could not pay the cost.
"Any regime that is put in place that would have to have ways in which people that didn't have the money to enter could. There could be some deferred payment schemes, or some ability to write off the particular circumstances."
Issues like the speed with which exemptions can be issued, how to assess hardship and thresholds for allowing exemptions are all complex and being worked through, says Woods.
The National Party says if it wins election in September, it will charge returning adults $3000 to help cover the costs of managed isolation.
11 comments
charge
Posted on 20-07-2020 09:29 | By dumbkof2
if they have been living and working overseas for more than 12 mths paying no taxes here then they should be charged, or if they go overseas again within 12 mths
Compassion needed
Posted on 20-07-2020 10:57 | By Slim Shady
There are many “foreigners” living here who were encouraged to come and bring their skills. And they have contributed greatly. But they still have family and commitments overseas that may need to be visited for compassionate reasons. There seems to be a growing small minded provincial attitude of resentment and “serves you right”. Be careful what you wish for because if it were not for skilled foreigners, who have paid more than their fair share in tax, the already woeful healthcare system would grind to a halt if they heeded the attitude and “went back” for good. The cost of quarantine is nothing compared to the money squandered and defrauded already, and at least it is keeping hotels afloat and thousands in work. The short sighted penny pinching is pathetic. It’s the dim appealing to the dim. Which is why you need skilled foreigners in the first place.
Fair go.
Posted on 20-07-2020 13:31 | By morepork
Kiwis coming home (whether by inclination or being forced to) must undergo quarantine. (At least for now...) That incurs a cost. It's not their fault but its not our fault either; it is just the nature of the pandemic. It is obviously very difficult to make sure that an equitable contribution is made, because it is almost impossible to decide who can afford it and who can't without a means test and that is going to be non-viable. $3000 as a blanket is just ridiculous. It is obviously designed to pander to rising resentment against returning travelers. There is little option but for the Government to pay the isolation cost. BUT, we could give returnees a "Covid debit" (like a student loan) which would be waived if they stay and work 5 years, but requires a proportional repayment if they leave sooner.
@morepork
Posted on 20-07-2020 15:43 | By Slim Shady
You mention “equitable contribution”. If you look at what taxes pay for and analysed what people put in and take out of the system over their life, the vast majority would be in “debit” as you put it. Most people’s lives are subsidised by high earners, business and wealthy. That is just a fact throughout the world. I would imagine most returnees would be skilled or wealthy and be good contributors. The irony is that many of the penny pinching resentful who are flapping over this will be net takers from the system over their lifetime. A substantial number are a complete drain on the system if truth be told. I’m all for a system where you only get out what you in. That is entirely fair. Good suggestions though from you but I fear most Kiwis are not as fair as you.
Actually
Posted on 20-07-2020 23:53 | By Yadick
This time I do agree with Slim Shady. Some really good points about foreigners and their skills and how much they have contributed. I also like Moreporks last paragraph re the 5yrs scheme. Certainly has merit and worth considering. I am a foreigner (that receives great grief over my name - entirely different meaning here :-) ) I have not contributed anything near what Slim Shady eludes to but through my business have certainly paid our share of tax. I would be happy to pay according to Moreporks suggestion. It is fair.
@ Morepork
Posted on 21-07-2020 22:31 | By Yadick
Honestly think you should send your 5yr idea directly to Prime Minister Adern.
Covid Debit for returnees.
Posted on 22-07-2020 14:34 | By morepork
Thanks for positive responses to this idea. I don't think it is rocket science and it would not be hard to implement. Yadick, I already tried getting to the Government over testing BEFORE embarkation, but I received no reply from the official Cabinet Office website. I don't want recognition, I just want them to do something sensible. Obviously, I don't have a phone number or email for the PM (probably just as well :-)) so all I can do is post publicly and hope the idea takes root... It's about WHAT's right, not WHO's right... :-)
@Slim Shady
Posted on 22-07-2020 14:49 | By morepork
Thanks for your response. I agree with you that many people would be in debit if anyone kept a "Life Ledger" (probably the first time you needed an operation or had to call on ACC would push you into a debt that would take forever to pay off.) It seems reasonable to say that people should only get out what they put in, but is it really? We are an affluent nation. Should we NOT care for our people? Without being too Leftie about it, wouldn't you want to know that your neighbors and friends received help when/if they needed it? Wouldn't you do so if you could? (Ever shared tools with a neighbor or passed food across the fence?) Of course we should be a Capitalist Democracy, and people should have a chance to excel, but that doesn't mean we should be unkind and ungenerous with our bounty.
@morepork
Posted on 23-07-2020 08:33 | By Slim Shady
I was simply responding to your 'equitable contribution' notion and pointing out that highly paid/skilled/wealthier already pay more than 'their fair share' in an already progressive system. And pointing out that many of the resentful 'serves you right for going' brigade do NOT pay their 'fair share'. I agree, we should be compassionate, which is why pinging people with a bill for enforced quarantine, after already forking out for 4x price flights, and already enduring a horrible experience is punitive and mean. They have thrown billions at people, many of whom do not pay 'their fair share'. They should foot the bill for this too. But it has brought out the worst in people. Acting like zoo animals when a new animal is introduced. Circling, banging their chest and squawking, mistakenly thinking that the new animal is taking THEIR food. Throw them a banana.
An update.
Posted on 23-07-2020 18:49 | By morepork
I received a response today from the PM's office thanking me for the suggestion and saying it has been forwarded to the Minister responsible. You never know... :-)
@ Morepork
Posted on 24-07-2020 11:54 | By Yadick
Google the PM's email/contact details. It's all there for the using and I can assure you that she herself does reply. Perhaps not immediately but she does respectfully reply.
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