Government under fire over baby bonus.

[Shazzam]

The Australian Govt is paying any mother who has a baby after 1st July this year a once off bonus of $4,000. There is alot of debate as to whether this should apply to every mother as alot of single (unemployed) women are looking at this as an option to get some money, which is very unfortunate for the poor child. Recently their was a documentary on television showing a 16 year old girl who had decided to have a child so that she could get the baby bonus to buy a car.

I think that the Government should only pay this allowance to woman who are married or in a permanent relationship, I think we are encouraging some young people to think of this as an option to getting money for nothing; so to speak.

[MissLT]

The thing is there are single mothers who indeed need help from the government to raise their children. Maybe to prevent lazy bums they should give out to 18 or 21 and over only. I mean, if a minor is pregnant, it's their parents's reponsibility and not the government, in my opinion. Also, those women also need to have proof of their income.

[Dixie]

The Australian Govt is paying any mother who has a baby after 1st July this year a once off bonus of $4,000.

And why is that, Sharon?

I think that that shouldn't apply to EVERY mother. Look at that teenager who decided to have a kid just to get the bonus and buy a car!! This is unbelievable (not to talk about the brainless teen).

[Shazzam]

The Australian Govt is paying any mother who has a baby after 1st July this year a once off bonus of $4,000.

And why is that, Sharon?

I think that that shouldn't apply to EVERY mother. Look at that teenager who decided to have a kid just to get the bonus and buy a car!! This is unbelievable (not to talk about the brainless teen).

I totally agree it is insane. I have never seen so many teens pushing prams since the policy came in. They think it is getting them out of work but they don't know how much work being a GOOD parent is! I think alot of aussies have stopped having babies (they are more worried about plasma tv's; home ownership etc). So both people work.

The govt is trying to encourage more aussies to have babies for the population. Plus it definately grabs votes.