Baby Bonus

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:44 am

Over here in Australia to encourage people to have more babies (as they dont thi k there is enough) the last government started a payment called the baby bonus which is paid to the mother when she has a new baby. It was $3,000 dollars and this financial year starting the first of July it has gone up to$5000. As some of you might know I am a foster carer and since this payment has started there has been

so many new borns placed into care, some carers have two or three babies as there is just not enough carers for the number of babies coming into care. I am over it. Just wondering what other people might think about this subject

mrsK · Post by **mrsK** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:49 am

I am thinking that it makes younger kids have babies to get the money & then once they realise a baby is forever & the money has long gone they cannot cope.:-6

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:51 am

Exactly, and why the government has realised this baffles me as its costing more to have them in care :-5

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:01 am

It is expensive buying all the baby stuff but I enjoyed saving up to buy my pram etc...Gives you a sense of pride. Maybe it would be better to give first time mums vouchers off nappies/baby food etc so the money does go to the baby and not on all and sundry.

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:02 am

Agree with you both on this matter.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:26 am

There was a change in government and I thought things may change as there was talk about giving vouchers instead of the money but nothing has changed

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:34 am

They sure enjoy giving our well earned money away thats for sure Kay and sometimes I do wonder in this country if we knew exactly how much of our money was being wasted......think it would shock some of us.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:38 am

The welfare system that we have here has kinda become like that, there are many girls now who have babies to get the money, it's kinda become reversed from it original purpose!

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:41 am

kayleneaussie;906792 wrote: There was a change in government and I thought things may change as there was talk about giving vouchers instead of the money but nothing has changed

I just think hard cash is too much of a temptation for alot of folks and if your struggling to pay a bill and have $3000 sat in a bank for baby things, the temptation must be very hard not to dip in. I realise the amount is to help the family as a whole and f that means paying an electricity bill so your baby is warm and fed obviously you pay it with whatever money you have. Maybe a third could be cash and the rest vouchers.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:28 am

Three grand for a life is nothing.

I think this practice is disgusting.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:16 am

Maybe the Aussie Government should implement a bonus program for the elderly infirm that drain financial resources. A cash bonus say for voluntary euthanasia.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:19 am

Lon;906953 wrote: Maybe the Aussie Government should implement a bonus program for the elderly infirm that drain financial resources. A cash bonus say for voluntary euthanasia.

But how would they spend it if they were dead:D:sneaky:

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:28 am

Chezzie;906955 wrote: But how would they spend it if they were dead:D:sneaky:

They leave the money to their yet to be born grandchildren or great grandchildren

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:30 am

Lon;906963 wrote: They leave the money to their yet to be born grandchildren or great grandchildren

Ahhh serves me right Lon Sorry...I thought you were kidding round.

Good idea but who gets it if they dont want kids or are unable to conceive?

I like old people:-4

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:03 pm

Do I understand you right ? These young girls / women are getting pregnant ,getting the money abd walking away from the baby when he/she is born leaving them to be the resposiblity the very same goverenment that 'paid' them to have the baby in the first place?

If so are their girls /women having babies as quick as can just to collect money ?

There is alot of that kind of thing here except the moms keep that babies and just have more and more as the years go on,, there is a woman I kmow who is in her early 30's and has 11 kids by 11 dads ,,one of the kids the dad took away from her but she collects a chaeck and food stamps for all the rest of them...

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:03 pm

Hope6;906802 wrote: The welfare system that we have here has kinda become like that, there are many girls now who have babies to get the money, it's kinda become reversed from it original purpose!

It was meant to help people when they lost jobs, but so many people who how to "work or milk" the system. I'm glad they threw half the people off it.

911 · Post by **911** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:12 pm

There should be a way to keep up with the babies. If the mothers give them away, they should have to give the money back. The whole idea is ridiculous.

Sort of like the stimulus checks we got this year. The more children or dependants you have, the more money you get. I consider that discrimination.

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:57 pm

fuzzy butt;907530 wrote: You guys do know that we have a shortage of people in this country? A huge proportion of our our population is 'over the hill' so to speak. and we are not replenishing the stock. They are about to open the flood gates to immigrants because we simply do not have enough people to fill all the jobs.

Also Kay you may find that the baby bonus has nothing to do with more babies going into care . The system has changed so dramatically it has become more regulated and "safer" parents are given more rights over their children and there are more systems in place to help people put into this stuation. Those who once would never have thought of putting their children into foster care are finding it a safe and regulated service. Also we have a change in our society where the number of people becoming homeless has sky rocketed . A lot of these people have children.

You'll also find that the number of women under the age of twenty becoming pregnant has also fallen since the eighties. Abortion is now the preferred option.

The baby bonus is not the be end all for bringing up children, but couples are finding it just too expensive in the first instance just to get baby things together for the first three months. But it's given to everyone and so is the family tax bonus. (that reminds me I have $1200 coming to me because i have two children and I get that every year. Around this time of year. )I'm buying Kayaks for the boys. They are wrapped!!!!

I'm actually upset when people say that young girls are becoming pregnant just to get the baby bonus. Why does everyone think they are so stupid? The last thing I'm thinking of during sex is whether i'm going to recieve $5000 (I'd wanna be pretty bloody good at it if that was the case:wah:)

I ask that question when I remembered that woman with 11 kids by 11 dads, it's not something as an American I'm proud of ,but the practice of young girls/woman here having babies to get that wefare check has been a practice among some peole for generations ,, I heard a awaman bragging once that her advice to her 3 girls as they became young women started the monthly was to get out there and get pregnant so they could have some spending money,, those girls were 4th generation welfare mamas ,

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:05 pm

fuzzy butt;907533 wrote: Oh and by the way I'm going to be a great aunt again three times over by next January:D:-4

January? What's the due date? And while we're on the subject, do they do baby showers in your country?

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:15 pm

fuzzy butt;907531 wrote: And remember friends, It's welfare that stops those who are on the brink of starving from robbing your fridges.

And it's been said that the majority of soldiers from America to the Iraq and Afghan war are from low income families and welfare recipients. Pretty high price to pay to protect the well off in that country.

Kay also , another reason for kids going into care so early in life could be the ridiculas way women spend only a day or two in hopital after giving birth and then sent on their way . Even those with no support basis. And the follow up mothercraft nurses are few and far between and the lack of a visiting home nurse is crutial in the lives of young mums.

Before the Bonus you hardly ever saw a new born baby come into care. Now as I said there are not enough carers to take the babies. I have spoken to some of the mothers and their reply was "I had the baby for the bonus and now I dont have to work because I can go on the Pension till the baby is 6. Little do they know when the baby goes into care the birth mother only gets 20% of the bonus.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:18 pm

fuzzy butt;907544 wrote: due dates are oct 16, January 10, and 16.

Yep we have baby showers . I've noticed that it seems to be after the baby is born here. In my experience anyway.

Oh they have them here but about a month or so before the baby is born. Uggh, they are sooo boring:wah: It gives the parent's in my book to take back what they don't care for.

With my first one, friends & family threw one and then I got smart and started buying 2nd hand stuff from flea markets & yard sales and saved a bundle for the last 3. Must say that the high chair & crib were the ones that lasted from 1st to last.:wah:

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:19 pm

scholle-kid;907511 wrote: Do I understand you right ? These young girls / women are getting pregnant ,getting the money abd walking away from the baby when he/she is born leaving them to be the resposiblity the very same goverenment that 'paid' them to have the baby in the first place?

If so are their girls /women having babies as quick as can just to collect money ?

There is alot of that kind of thing here except the moms keep that babies and just have more and more as the years go on,, there is a woman I kmow who is in her early 30's and has 11 kids by 11 dads ,,one of the kids the dad took away from her but she collects a chaeck and food stamps for all the rest of them...

The mothers dont walk away from their babies they are taken from them due to domestic violence, drugs etc history. I know of a few mothers who keep having babies and their comments are..I will keep having them until you stop taking them away.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:34 pm

fuzzy butt;907554 wrote: I'm sure you have that experience but you're seeing it, it's in your face all the time. And it's such a small percent of the population of those having babies.

don't tar them all with the same brush Kay and scholle.

the bonus is not going to be given in a lump sum payment anymore.

We had a few instances where much older men would use stand over tactics and get girls pregnant take the money off them and then get rid of the mother and child. there are arsoles out there but the majority of people are not doing this.

Hey I am not saying everyone is having babies for the bonus. Sure it helps out a lot of people but then there are those who are abusing the system and thats when you see these new innocent newborns come into foster care. I would say every carer I know has at least one newborn in their care so its just not a few babies its a large number. Lets hope the change comes then by not paying it in a lump sum.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:46 pm

fuzzy butt;907562 wrote: There are other factors at work here kay. the baby bonus has not created a baby boom for welfare . Despite what the mothers sometimes say, pride and hurt are extremely prominant when it comes to this situation , dig a little deeper and you'll find other reasons. god what are we doing to our younger generation? Also the general population want someone to blame for everything ...............welfare mothers get the brunt of all this crap because they are an easy target.

And yes there were a lot of kids in foster/welfare when I was young . But it became a priority to begin keeping babies with their mothers. the thinking was that the poor should not be penalised for being poor. And who are the most vulnerable and poor in our communities ? Single young mothers.

I am not picking on the young mothers a lot of these babies come from all age ranges from 14 to 40 year old mothers. I was just pointing out that when the baby bonus came in more babies came into care. If the bonus can be paid in installments well and good. I am not a single mothers basher I will never be one as I have a daughter who is a single mother. I was just stating a fact.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:49 am

Think we will have to agree to disagree on this Fuzz:D

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:59 am

kayleneaussie;906757 wrote: Over here in Australia to encourage people to have more babies (as they dont thi k there is enough) the last government started a payment called the baby bonus which is paid to the mother when she has a new baby. It was $3,000 dollars and this financial year starting the first of July it has gone up to$5000. As some of you might know I am a foster carer and since this payment has started there has been

so many new borns placed into care, some carers have two or three babies as there is just not enough carers for the number of babies coming into care. I am over it. Just wondering what other people might think about this subject

My first post was in cintexr with 2 things, 1st being what I thought you were saying with this OP and what I know about the welfare abuse we have here , after reading what you and fuzzy posted after I posted my question , about the need for a larger population there and that there are in some caes drugs ,abuse or homelessness involved when these babies come into foster care ,now I'm starting to see what you are talking about.

Kat

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:05 am

scholle-kid;907663 wrote: My first post was in cintexr with 2 things, 1st being what I thought you were saying with this OP and what I know about the welfare abuse we have here , after reading what you and fuzzy posted after I posted my question , about the need for a larger population there and that there are in some caes drugs ,abuse or homelessness involved when these babies come into foster care ,now I'm starting to see what you are talking about.

Kat

Sorry I wasnt completely clear on the subject kat but it is fairly involved .

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:32 am

kayleneaussie;907671 wrote: Sorry I wasnt completely clear on the subject kat but it is fairly involved .
Yes, I'm seeing that,

and I apologize for the spelling in that last post I was reading yours and fuzzy's post and not putting attention to what I was doing while typeing.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:37 am

scholle-kid;907692 wrote: Yes, I'm seeing that,

and I apologize for the spelling in that last post I was reading yours and fuzzy's post and not putting attention to what I was doing while typeing.

didnt notice

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:04 am

mrsK;906760 wrote: I am thinking that it makes younger kids have babies to get the money & then once they realise a baby is forever & the money has long gone they cannot cope.:-6

My thoughts exactly!

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:43 am

Is it wierd how Governments seem to 'think' ? There are not enough care givers to sare for the many chldren in the foster care and the government literlly 'puts a plan into action that ;ogic tells you people are going to take advantage of' I am sure there are citizens all over your country that use the baby bonas the way it is meant to be used and of course those babies are not the ones you see in foster care , so it stands to reason I'm not talking about those children, but the many others that are born to those young girls that some older man got her pregnant got the money and is long gone or the others you mentioned with drugsor,abuse involved .

All governments seem to run along the same thought pattern when spending tax money,, you said

"so many new borns placed into care, some carers have two or three babies as there is just not enough carers for the number of babies coming into care."

But instead of investing more tax money towards careing for the foster care babies already in understaffed homes. The government starts a plan that will bring more infants in,,

Our American government has set up the welfre system along those very same thought paterns..

As I re read what I've typed I realize It's more of a rant against our governments than anything about the OP topic. I'll stop here.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:31 am

scholle-kid;907766 wrote: Is it wierd how Governments seem to 'think' ? There are not enough care givers to sare for the many chldren in the foster care and the government literlly 'puts a plan into action that ;ogic tells you people are going to take advantage of' I am sure there are citizens all over your country that use the baby bonas the way it is meant to be used and of course those babies are not the ones you see in foster care , so it stands to reason I'm not talking about those children, but the many others that are born to those young girls that some older man got her pregnant got the money and is long gone or the others you mentioned with drugsor,abuse involved .

All governments seem to run along the same thought pattern when spending tax money,, you said

"so many new borns placed into care, some carers have two or three babies as there is just not enough carers for the number of babies coming into care."

But instead of investing more tax money towards careing for the foster care babies already in understaffed homes. The government starts a plan that will bring more infants in,,

Our American government has set up the welfre system along those very same thought paterns..

As I re read what I've typed I realize It's more of a rant against our governments than anything about the OP topic. I'll stop here.

As I said before I am not pointing the finger at the young ones its all ages and there has definately been a high rise in children coming into care since this scheme started .

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:39 am

fuzzy butt;907531 wrote: And remember friends, It's welfare that stops those who are on the brink of starving from robbing your fridges.

And it's been said that the majority of soldiers from America to the Iraq and Afghan war are from low income families and welfare recipients. Pretty high price to pay to protect the well off in that country.

Kay also , another reason for kids going into care so early in life could be the ridiculas way women spend only a day or two in hopital after giving birth and then sent on their way . Even those with no support basis. And the follow up mothercraft nurses are few and far between and the lack of a visiting home nurse is crutial in the lives of young mums.

That "hear-say" is just that, hear-say!!! The majority of the American military forces fighting (and dying) in those wars are "National Guard Reservervists"!

They are all "gainfully employed"!Many of them serving 2, 3, & some even 4 tours of duty!!

Many are American young, even middle aged, "Fathers", & "Mothers" leaving their "families" and their jobs here, as they go off to war!!!

I know 4 such families personally! It's not always good to believe everything you hear!