[Greens-Media] Greens: Apply new baby bonus rules to all

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens: Apply new baby bonus rules to all

The Greens want all parents to receive the Baby Bonus in fortnightly
payments, not just those under the age of 18.

The Greens will today seek to amend the Government's baby bonus
legislation to extend fortnightly payments to all recipients unless a
lump sum is specifically approved.

The reasons the Government put forward for limiting payments to those
under 18 apply to all parents, and in fact many of those reasons apply
more to those over 18.

"Young mothers have been unduly discriminated against in this
legislative change."

"The Greens believe that it would be a better outcome for all recipients
if these changes applied across the board, so that everyone received
fortnightly payments rather than a lump sum," said Senator Siewert.

The Greens will also move amendments to address the principal carer
loophole, in which only one parent can be declared a principal carer and
receive parenting allowance and entitlements even where parents are
equally sharing care. 

"This is inequitable to parents and a blatant inconsistency between the
Family Law Act and Social Security legislation" said Senator Siewert.

For more information or comment call:
	           
Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

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The Family Assistance Office website (as of 11th January 2007) gives the
following reasons.

Young people with one or more of the following risks are unlikely to
receive a lump sum: 
* Inexperience in handling large sums of money, OR 
* Situations where an applicant may be subject to pressure to use the
payment unwisely, OR 
* History of experiencing domestic or family violence, OR 
* History of difficulties in managing finances, OR 
* Situations where an applicant may be vulnerable to exploitation, OR 
* Gambling problems, OR 
* Substance addiction, OR 
* Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, OR 
* Previously had or currently has a child subject to child protection,
OR 
* Intellectual disability, OR 
* Mental illness.
http://www.familyassist.gov.au/Internet/FAO/fao1.nsf/content/payments-ma
ternity_payment_for_teenagers


Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au

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