WITH talk of the Federal Budget indicating that the Baby Bonus will become means tested, the Member for New England Tony Windsor is calling for it to be scrapped altogether.
Mr Windsor believes that the Baby Bonus sends the wrong message to people about the long term commitment needed for having children as against the short term ‘bonus’ of $5000 payable on delivery.
“Having children is a major commitment by parents taken mainly and hopefully after looking at their circumstances and deciding that the time is right for them to be able to adjust their circumstances to meet the needs of a child coming into their lives,” he said.
“Since the introduction of the Baby Bonus, I believe there has been another short term thought enter into the decision making process - that being what will be, as of July 1, a $5000 payment made on delivery.
“It concerns me that some people who aren’t really in a position financially or in maturity see the $5000 as a short term gain but in reality parenting is a lifetime responsibility that requires much more.”
Mr Windsor says that there is anecdotal evidence that suggests the Baby Bonus in some cases is not being spent as it was intended.
“I have heard reports that the Baby Bonus is finding its way into poker machines and purchasing plasma televisions and other luxury items rather than being spent on the baby that has brought the windfall,” he said.
“This is not the way the payment was meant to be spent and I don’t believe that means testing the payment or adjusting the way that it is paid will necessarily help the situation.
“The Baby Bonus was introduced by the former government at a time when it was looking for ways to maintain its position of power.
“So having one for mum, one for dad and one for the country as the former Treasurer, Peter Costello said, was only a short term political policy rather than a long term commitment to providing better opportunities for children.”