Aging Population & Baby Bonus
By Gemmygirl1
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
Australia
March 26, 2007 8:12am CST
Here in Australia we have an aging population, so to combat that, the government has started giving out a baby bonus to encourage people to have more children.
For those who are wanting children it can be a blessing, it's extra money that comes only after the baby is born (the midwives have to sign papers for proof of birth etc) as a lump sum for those last minute things or to go towards other things.
Now this is also a bad thing with many VERY young girls becoming mothers just for the 'free money'.
Many of these young girls/women spend the money on what they want rather than using it to help with the child's needs (a lot were buying big TV's, gaming consoles, shopping sprees etc).
Even though they have now made changes to this plan - being if you're very young you don't get a lump sum payment, only smaller installments to try to combat the young ones getting pregnant for the money.
Do you think this Baby Bonus system is the right way to go about increasing the population? or do you think there could be a better way of going about it?
Please keep in mind, the Baby Bonus isn't just a couple hundred dollars - it is currently sitting at $4000 per child!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject coz i don't think there is another country that has anything like we do here, if there is, i'd really like to hear about it.
4 responses
@Madona1 (2096)
• Gibraltar
8 Feb 08
Hello there, personally I think your government is doing the right things as they not only govern and run the country for the time being, but also take the future into account, which means they try to well prepare the future as well. However, regardless any law or rule is implemented; people will always find the loophole to take advantage. But this doesn't mean the government will give up carrying out new laws or rules. Alternatively, your government has listened to the public and amended it accordingly in favour of the public's needs and interest.
I would say your Baby Bonus system is indirectly to increase the population as there are many factors involved to bring up a child. $4000 AUD or even $10,000 is not enough to bring up a child. This system is just to encourage and help to boost the population. To conclude, your government has tried their best to do their job.
As you said, we don’t have such Baby Bonus system due to we have a reasonable population and the different benefit system. Every country should has his own way to run its course.
1 person likes this
@Aphroditei_5279 (2465)
• Philippines
9 Apr 07
I'm currently living here in the Philippines and babies are not a problem here. (^^,LOL) I think your government intentions are great but they have to set definite parameters. Like the targeted age bracket, the reasons why to have a baby and like a "sort of ultimatum" especially for late twenties's career women and single men and legally married couples of at leat one year... Something like that.
It should be specific to avoid young teenager for making babies for the wrong reason. And to assure the protection and well being of the child. If not it sends the wrong idea of doing babies for money only and I don't think it is a healthy practice either. And it is quite unfair for the unborn children. (^^,)
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
29 Feb 08
well, $4000 isn't a lot in view of the total cost of bringing up a child. But I can see how some short sighted teenagers could be tempted by that.
in my country, we are running out of babies too! and we have baby bonuses but in the past they were only for second and third children. most of it was in the form of tax relief for the mum.
the worst problem in this is that the government wants mothers to remain in the workforce, and they want babies and youths that are well-adjusted. my personal opinion is that something's gotta give.
@mcgill1 (49)
•
16 Feb 08
Hello in Australia, I wonder if you would be kind enough to inform me of what the state pension is for the elderly people in Austrialia, and also do older people have to pay for residential care ?
Here in the UK right wing Government's since the 1980's have forced elderly people to have sell their homes to pay for Residential care, and also the state pension is worth just 16 per cent of national average wages, ie £87 a week for single pensioners.
Thank you.
