The government’s baby bonus program has not reached its allocated budget amount for 2008 and the inclusion of parents previously omitted from the program should now be re-evaluated and given these benefits, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

In this year’s budget, families were disqualified from receiving the $1000 payment if they had their child prior to January. Many believed the baby bonus payment should be retroactive to the date in September 2007 when Premier Williams made the election promise. Other families were disappointed that they were not eligible to receive the $100 monthly supplement, even though they were still on maternity leave during 2008. There are approximately 1100 families affected.

“There are obvious financial benefits for parents and children through this program,” said Ms. Jones. “Government confirmed today that while they estimated approximately 4500 babies would be born or adopted this year, only 3000 applications have been received. With the surplus that is anticipated to result from this program in 2008, I would encourage government to re-evaluate whether the families that were excluded from receiving these payments could now be included.

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