Right on, I'm hearing some of you say. And those that disagree? Well, i accept that you have an opinion, it just happens to be the wrong one.
Seriously though, i do remember a time when having children was something that was planned for and saved for. And in those days, in most cases people got by with just one parent working.
So why is it that parents are now offered $5000 to have a baby? And then on top of that, ongoing payments - family tax benefit A and B. And then the childcare tax rebate of up to $7,500 per child per year.
What gives? The simple answer is an electoral bribe. The problem being, that once brought in, what government would dare take it off? Not this one, and not the next.
But it should be - it is both unfair to single taxpayers, but more importantly, is creating an unrealistic middle class welfare state. These payments, even if means tested, are often going to people with a fully decked out large house, brand new furniture, new LCD TVs (yes, plural), new cars and the best clothes. Not to mention regular nights out on the town. These guys have plenty of discretionary dollars. But who pays for them? Me.
And then you have the ridiculous idea that the $5000 also goes to the baby machines - who have these kids often with multiple fathers. These are the same disgusting people who were found in South Australia in recent days, with their kids terribly neglected. Starving and sick. Yep, we gave them $5000 too. Did they spend it on the kids? No way.
And before you lefties start screaming that these people don't exist...how about you get out into the real world? Leave the inner city latte sipping suburbs, ditch the charity set and see what happens in the outer suburbs.
Witness the pram set hanging around suburban shopping centres - not drinking coffee - but stubbies of beer, and even after the alco pop tax, mixed drinks. And this is mid morning, sometimes just the mothers. Other times, the father is there too. Or is he the father?
And then see them in the supermarket, buying name brand labels, filling their trolleys with useless junk, then buying cartons of cigarettes.
Trust me - this happens. And its on your dollar that it does.
You know what i get from the government for making the choice NOT to have children? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. But i do pay taxes. I pay for the $5000 baby bonus. I pay for family tax benefit. I pay for the childcare tax rebate. I pay for these kids education. I pay for the new furniture, the new cars and the LCD TVs. And i pay for the newstart allowance and parenting payment when they wont get a job.
Stop the baby bonus and stop the endless middle class welfare. Do i think this will happen? Nope. I'm just waiting for the next electoral bribe to the working families under no financial pressure. And for those that are under pressure...you created it for yourself. To you i say bad luck, and remember, you owe me money.
.
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Seriously though, i do remember a time when having children was something that was planned for and saved for. And in those days, in most cases people got by with just one parent working.
So why is it that parents are now offered $5000 to have a baby? And then on top of that, ongoing payments - family tax benefit A and B. And then the childcare tax rebate of up to $7,500 per child per year.
What gives? The simple answer is an electoral bribe. The problem being, that once brought in, what government would dare take it off? Not this one, and not the next.
But it should be - it is both unfair to single taxpayers, but more importantly, is creating an unrealistic middle class welfare state. These payments, even if means tested, are often going to people with a fully decked out large house, brand new furniture, new LCD TVs (yes, plural), new cars and the best clothes. Not to mention regular nights out on the town. These guys have plenty of discretionary dollars. But who pays for them? Me.
And then you have the ridiculous idea that the $5000 also goes to the baby machines - who have these kids often with multiple fathers. These are the same disgusting people who were found in South Australia in recent days, with their kids terribly neglected. Starving and sick. Yep, we gave them $5000 too. Did they spend it on the kids? No way.
And before you lefties start screaming that these people don't exist...how about you get out into the real world? Leave the inner city latte sipping suburbs, ditch the charity set and see what happens in the outer suburbs.
Witness the pram set hanging around suburban shopping centres - not drinking coffee - but stubbies of beer, and even after the alco pop tax, mixed drinks. And this is mid morning, sometimes just the mothers. Other times, the father is there too. Or is he the father?
And then see them in the supermarket, buying name brand labels, filling their trolleys with useless junk, then buying cartons of cigarettes.
Trust me - this happens. And its on your dollar that it does.
You know what i get from the government for making the choice NOT to have children? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. But i do pay taxes. I pay for the $5000 baby bonus. I pay for family tax benefit. I pay for the childcare tax rebate. I pay for these kids education. I pay for the new furniture, the new cars and the LCD TVs. And i pay for the newstart allowance and parenting payment when they wont get a job.
Stop the baby bonus and stop the endless middle class welfare. Do i think this will happen? Nope. I'm just waiting for the next electoral bribe to the working families under no financial pressure. And for those that are under pressure...you created it for yourself. To you i say bad luck, and remember, you owe me money.
.
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About Just Grumpy
11 comments
Get over it. You're acting as though the people depict actually affect the amount you're being taxed. And your point of view, although common (I must admit), is extremely near sighted and ignorant of the broader economic view moving forward.
The fact is, last year's amount of total births was the highest EVER. And 18 years down the track, those babies will most likely be paying taxes and contributing. Only a few years ago, with a rapidly aging workforce, the future was bleak; without interverntion, future tax revenue (and workers - the tax payers) looked uncertain.
As disquieting it is to be forking over your hard earned cash in taxes (and I did too, last year - 14 grand, thanks) if many of us are to have the benefit of currently guaranteed welfare services - medicare, old age pensions, state compensation and legal aid - we need to increase the birth rate fast, and now.
This isn't a flame; seeing 16 year old mothers, 3 kids in toe, thinking about how they are spending their bonuses infuriates and saddens me also. But one must look at the broader ramifications of the strategy.
I'm a 28 year old professional, who works hard and pays taxes. And I want to be able to get my pension (albeit, a part one) when I'm an old man, thankyouverymuch.
Well, the previous commenter just doesn't get it does he/she? The $5000 baby bonus doesn't encourage people who already have money to breed. No, instead it encourages the lower ends of society to drop sprogs just to get the money. And do you really think that all these lower end of society losers will actually end up paying much tax? Of course not. So what it is actually doing is to bring into society a new breed of undereducated, low earning, low tax paying (if any) individual. And that is definitely NOT what this country needs.
A far better method of increasing the population would be via immigration - no not the average Indian/Paki/Leb/Asian but the wealthy white educated people who currently have to cue behind the former mentioned in order to come here. People are not all equal. Whites are better educated and better funded, so why not do what's best for the country instead of bowing to popularist measures and letting in every tom, dick and harry in?
Just one more thing - If you genuinely think that when you retire after another 40 years you will be getting any social benefits with the current stupid, stupid policies, you really are an deluding yourself.
I meant "queue". It's late.
Hey John,
I like the way you think. For years I have been trying to figure out why we have let in so many lebanese, indians, africans, middle easterns etc - and the worst bludgers of them all - the mauri and islanders - why are they coming in in droves when we know of wealthy educated skilled people in the US and UK wanting to come over but at being blocked by do-gooder beurocratic bullshit. I mean seriously are they TRYING to crash the australian economy and image with letting in the wrong people?
(and I intentionally left asians out of this because on a whole they do actually have a strong work ethic and usually keep to themselves)
Here in Cairns the baby bonus has resulted in an explosion of indigenous and Islander children screaming their way around the shopping centres. They will not be working to pay taxes to fund anybody's pension at any time...ever, but they'll be wanting someone to work to pay for theirs. The girls are in the birthing suite by their 16th birthday, and asking for the "paperwork" as they get wheeled back to the ward. And yes, trashed commission houses complete with the huge flat screen is a reality. Up here the Baby Bonus is a recipe for a social disaster over the next 15 - 20 years.
Paul - I was in Cairns not long ago on a nursing placement in the base hospital - it really is as bad as you say - they really are asking for the forms AT the hospital. But the sad thing is - its not just cairns - its all over QLD now.
Gone are the days of walking on egg shells because of the "stolen generation" and the "stolen land" bull crap - if I can get off my arse and work for a living then so should they. but what really gets me is that the government is sooooo cautious to not be racist these days that they are actually discriminating against the caucasians.
take the student allowance for instance ... for a 21yr old living with mum and dad studying full time - they get a total of $244.40 per fortnight ... but if your aboriginal or TSI - you get $453.30 - thats an extra $208.90 a fortnight more!
Not to mention the A&TSI students also get $783.50 a fortnight if they go on and do a masters degree - caucasians - your only entitled to student allowance whilst at school, a trade or a bachelor - no masters for them
HOW THE HELL IS THAT FAIR AND JUST???!!!
Just to begin I'd like to state that I am a middle class white Australian who has received the benefit of a tertiary education. I would also like to add that during no time have I ever received a government benefit. No dole, no Austudy, nothing. My parents earned too much for me to receive any government allowance, although they offered nothing to me either, which was their prerogative. I have worked my arse off since I was 17 to work for what I have.
Now, never mind the fact that virtually no Australian companies support any time frame of paid maternity leave (which has been and still is a national disgrace for a developed country) for people like myself and my partner who are in their early thirties and found out they were pregnant (and I'm sure your parents all planned having you?), saved like bloody mad during the pregnancy - I worked until 2 weeks before giving birth - and have been so grateful for that money as it gave me a mere 3 months where we did not have to worry about bills while I bonded with my baby, breast fed her, and generally learned to be a good mother to my child.
I can see all of your bumper stickers now... Gems like "Stereotypes are a real time saver" and "Australia - if you don't like it, fuck off!"
I am so appreciative of everything I have ever received from the government. So stop grouping people into one category, you opinionated, whinging arseholes.
I can't believe I have to share a national identity with you people.
Yeah my parents planned when they had me, but at least they dont whinge
like some of you guys do!!!! bla bla bla.
It's worse than just the baby bonus. I've uncovered that actually single mothers on welfare are extremely rare. Most have one partner and many have others on the side to pay for bills and drugs, commonly known as prostitution. The partner has his own housing commission unit but will live in the womans more comfortable home where she will cook, clean and pay the bills. Paternity of her offspring is a non-issue as they are only wanted because of the government benefits they bring. The partner may rent his unit to a friend from work. Yes, the partner may work but usually only cash in hand.
My own non-tenant neighbour shares his defacto with another man. They even tried running a brothel next door and got away with it. The position they live in allows them to rent their garage to public servants. They are always drunk or on drugs. Being semi-literate, they spend their days watching foxtel. The woman's first child has Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder. The mother and partner also seem to have it. There is no way Centrelink won't be giving them cash for the next one. Yes she's pregnant. Fortunately, they have recently been medicated with anti-psychotics so I can no longer say they are constantly fighting.
Thank you thank you!! I agree totally with you YG. having babies is a life style choice and should not be paid for with bonus' - affording a child should be taken into consideration BEFORE getting knocked up. If the government is so adamant about having more skilled workers etc how about giving that $5000 towards education - subsidise uni for instance. let's help out the kids we already have instead of paying for more. 16 year old idiots are the ones breeding for cash - it's disgusting. I'm tired of parents whingeing and moaning about having kids and how hard it is blah blah - it's a choice - you decided to have kids, now deal with it. i don't owe you money and you shouldn't get the good parks at the shops.
Hi, I agree with you that baby bonus should be stopped. Australia soon will look back and see their policies of encouraging population growth is wrong as we already have a big population for our useable land, water and other resources, besides population is increasing compoundedly. The following generations will suffer as a result. They may have to have one child policy or have to live in high rising apartments, like China.
One suggestion for your website, I think it may be better to change your site name (Young and Grumpy) as it indicates kind of anti-social and biased opinion.
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