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Monday, 13 October 2008

Delayed births won't sway govt on baby bonus

23/03/2008 7:28:00 PM.  | 

The scheduled baby bonus increase will not be phased in, federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says.

Two academics want the mid-year increase to be phased in to prevent women delaying births to be eligible for the bonus.

The bonus, introduced by the previous Howard government in 2004 as a means of boosting birth rates and as an alternative to paid maternity leave, is due to rise to $5,000 from $4,187 on July 1.

Ms Roxon said the government would not phase-in the payment and any delays would be one or two days not months.

"I think this is a little bit overstated, I would be absolutely confident that doctors will be giving their patients the best clinical advice.

"I really think this is around the margins, probably a matter of a day or two rather than there being some serious issues of doctors advising women to wait an extra month.

Australian National University economist Andrew Leigh said it is an unhealthy incentive for women to over-cook their babies, with about 1,000 births delayed in 2004 so that mothers were eligible to receive the bonus.

Meanwhile Ms Roxon has also rejectedclaims the government has been too slow in introducing paid maternity leave after referring the question to the Productivity Commission.

Ms Roxon has told Channel Ten there are number of points which have to be taken into account.

"Labor is committed to making a difference and we have asked the Productivity Commission to tell us which method for paying such an entitlement will work best both for mothers and their families but also for the economy and for business."

COMMENTS

Sunday, 23 March 2008

A woman will try to delay a birth for $813? I'm beginning to believe my mum is looking at me funny, maybe she is wanting to do something similar? I think there must be some statute of limitation. I am 41 years old ..

Posted by: David Daniel Ball, Carramar/Sydney

 

Sunday, 23 March 2008

I would love to see a women try this - I've given birth four times & I can assure you when a baby wants to come out, it comes out & there is nothing the mother can do about it. Besides no doctor is going to stop a natural birth if it occurs between 37-42 weeks. As for someone doing this to gain a lousy $813.00 - what a lot of rubbish.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Monday, 24 March 2008

This is crazy, i hope no women actually think about doing this! I recently lost my son Jaxson (he unfortunately was stillborn at 39 weeks due to a problem with the placenta, which we had no idea about) and i have met many women who have lost their babies at 41 weeks etc as the placenta starts to shut down.. i wouldn't wish the pain i am going through on my worst enemy so i really hope no stupid money hungry women would actually try to delay their births! for their babies sake i hope not :(

Posted by: Karen Batters, gold coast

 
 

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