Bring forward the Baby Bonous

[Leigh]

SMH Article (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bring-forward-bonus-rise-doctors/2006/06/24/1150845417417.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1)

Doctors are asking that the Govnt bring forward the day for the baby bonus to go up $800 from next Saturday because too many people are putting of the birth of their child.

I find that really sad that people would be putting their baby at risk for $800. Maybe when it went up to $3000, you could sort of understand a but...I'm sure some would be ok to wait a few days, but not all.

July 1 saw the most births in one day in 30 years...that is amazing. What people will do for money.

[5littleducks]

i personally think it's pathetic. so many "finished" families now have more children due to extra money ..

i agree .. $800 isnt worth risking your baby or yourself ..

[Naomi]

I have to admit, I am curious to know if the problem is as bad as the media are making it out to be.

I realise that last time there was a dip and bounce around July 1, but surely this time people realised the increase was happening (unlike last time, when the maternity payment was announced after these people were already pregnant) so if they were that desperate for the extra $, wouldn't they have waited the extra month to ttc?

Also, this would only refer to 'planned' births such as inductions and caesarians, which are often performed for medical reasons and I can't understand why a Dr (specialist) wouldn't insist on this happening at the safest time? What kind of parent would go against their Drs advice?

I do understand why the Government won't bring the date forward, not even from a financial perspective but if they bring it forward a week this time, what do they do next time? Where do you draw the line.

If parents are putting babies lives at risk to get an extra thousand dollars, that's just really pathetic. How can you put such a measly price on your child's health and safety :no:

[purple_kitten]

I don't need to worry cuz mine isn't due for another month. But it is silly how they want to delay the birth for the extra money.

[yomamma]

this is the opposite of what stars do,they have their babies to coinside with oscars or films they are doing.
Why can't people just let the babies come when they are ready,it is disgraceful. Are they having the child in the first place for the money??????

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Oh that's horrible, I would never endanger my baby's life for $1000, people who do that are disgusting

[kayleneross]

Personally I think this Maternity Bonus should be abolished. When the $3000 came in there have been so many babies placed in care some carers have two babies thats how bad it is. I am dreading when it goes up to $4000.

[Di Nana]

What is this baby tax, do you get a lump some when you have a baby and is this every baby you have, We have maternity leave for mothers giving up there job, but I know that is not what you are referring to here :dk:

[purple_kitten]

What is this baby tax, do you get a lump some when you have a baby and is this every baby you have, We have maternity leave for mothers giving up there job, but I know that is not what you are referring to here :dk:

Yeah as of July 1 this year there will be a lump sum payment of $4000 to anyone having a baby from July 1. At the moment its only $3000. I am not really sure why it came into place to begin with.

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

It was one of John Howards idea's to encourage Australian familes to have more babies by giving them a helping hand. Apparently Australians are having less babies these days so Johnny introduced this to get more babies

[yomamma]

we also get $500 each year for each child under 5 and another $600 for each child under 15 (I think).

[Leigh]

Image what it will be like in 2008..it goes to $8000, hopefully by then they will get some sense and break up the payments.
Jake likes to joke he wants to wait till then and have twins ( like there is a button to push to order them :Hehe:)

I thought it was $600 all kids under 16 :dk: I don't question whats what, just spend it LOL. Also this year there is $250 payment for large families with 3 kids.

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Hmmmm I thought it was just the $600 for each child under 16. And that extra $250 for big families is a new one

[yomamma]

Gee i didn't know about the extra $250 should I tell hubby or just spend it?

[Leigh]

I'm not sure if we get it as a lump sum with the other, people with 4+ kids already get it..so many someone else will know :dk:

I reckon just spend it...by yourself something nice :yes:

[Di Nana]

Familys here get a payment depending on how many children you have, child support you have to qualify, it is for the low and middle class earners that are not already on a benifit, but there is no baby pay out maybe they don't want to encourage NZ's to breed LMAO LMAO

[~CJJHRA~]

the large family supplement you used to get for the 4th child and every child there after, but they have now included the 3rd child to be a large family, you dont get a lump sum of $250, you get it fortnightly, something like $9.60 a fortnight it is

not everyone gets the baby bonus, and thats only paid for one child, as long as they were born between july 01 and june 30th 04 if you had 2,3,4 children born in that time, you only get it for one...

[GINAinLA]

I cannot believe that your government will give $4000 lump sum just for having a baby. I understand they want to increase the population, but I think it is a bad idea.. some people will go around and have kids for the wrong reason..

Maybe if they gave the $ in a trust for the child and the parents cant touch it..then that would be ok. but .

I guess I just think how chaotic it would be here. not like we need any more people in our country.. we need people out!

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Which is why they wouldn't have anything like this in the US. But yes there are some people that just do it for the money. A guy that used to live with me and the ex had a bub last year and all the money went on his car :roll: I feel so sorry for that poor baby, her parents always seem to have it not the actual parents

[Naomi]

Maybe if they gave the $ in a trust for the child and the parents cant touch it..then that would be ok. but .

No. The reason this wouldn't work is because it takes away the motivation for people to have a baby. For instance, some families will use the money in leui of paid maternity leave (paid maternity leave is not compulsory in Australia). If the money was in trust for the child, that doesn't help the family at all.

There is a lot of grumbling about 'babies having babies' just to get the money. I'd actually be interested to see the statistics on this (and I don't mean Today Tonight or other reputable :roll: 'investigative journalism' statistics). Anyone with a brain would realise that $3,000 ($4,000) won't go far when you're looking at raising a child for 18+ years. Even as a lump sum, it doesn't go far once you've bought a cot, pram, carseat, baby clothes etc.

It's right up there with the argument that parents are spending the money on themselves, and not the children (shock horror :roll: ). If the bills are paid, if food is bought, if rent is paid ... it all benefits the baby. If the parents buy a big screen television and the baby is sitting in manky filthy clothes and starving, that's not right obviously, but this surely is the exception.

FWIW the maternity payment was announced after we fell pregnant, and came in before Hugo was born so we didn't get pregnant for the money :Hehe: and we were in the position to not 'need' the money to set up for our child ... so it went into our bank account. Is that wrong? Why is it up to anyone else how we spend the money, as long as our child is cared for?

Oh, and I still don't think the Govt should bring the increase forward.

[GINAinLA]

It's right up there with the argument that parents are spending the money on themselves, and not the children . If the bills are paid, if food is bought, if rent is paid ... it all benefits the baby. If the parents buy a big screen television and the baby is sitting in manky filthy clothes and starving, that's not right obviously, but this surely is the exception.
we were in the position to not 'need' the money to set up for our child ... so it went into our bank account. Is that wrong? Why is it up to anyone else how we spend the money, as long as our child is cared for?

If the baby is cared for, then it doesnt matter what the parents do with the $$. I see it is to help the parents help the baby.

I know we spent well over $4000 for all the essentials, before Kieren was even born. So had we received $. The $ would have gone for things for him or in a trust.

It is just too bad there isnt a way to put stipulationson the spending of it, LIke showing receipts for the things you have bought.
Like mailing in your receipts for the baby items and getting reimbursed.Because I am sure some young kids will do it for the money then not care for their child, and they will end up somewhere like at Kaylenes.

I agree also they should not bump up the date.

[crashtestwoman]

Well with my $3000 baby bonus I received 2 years ago I brought a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, and furniture for the lounge room and kids room (first new furniture in almost 12 years) and I don't care what anyone says I think it's a great initive for australian families. I didn't get maternity leave money (being a casual) and I was damn lucky that I still had a job when I wanted to go back, so the money that was left helped me to keep ontop of everything untill I went back to work. The bonus that we get every year goes on all the huge things that just take you forever and a day to save up for (this year $500 to school camp) and I just love that too.
I say good on the government for bringing in just an innovative and wonderfull bonus scheme (in Saudi Arabia, the sultan gives you $6000 wedding present when you marry, and more money each time you have a baby and guess what,,,,,,,THEY DON'T PAY TAX IN SAUDI ARABIA), so I'm thinking I'm just getting some of my tax dollars back.
Cheers
debbu

[yomamma]

Debby did you write $500 for school camp? Where are they going?

[crashtestwoman]

My son is in year 7 and they are off to Canberra and Sydney for a week (from brisbane) so I guess that's a pretty good price. I just hope the little bogger actually goes and if he doesn't want to go tells me before I pay the money.
Cheers
debby

[yomamma]

I complain at $130 for 3 days around the corner. Maybe the money we get can pay for his camp next term.