Problem parents' baby bonus cash scrapped | NEWS.com.au

Problem parents' baby bonus cash scrapped | NEWS.com.au Women who are victims of domestic violence may also benefit if welfare workers ask for the bonus to be paid in vouchers to prevent abusive partners getting the money. Department of Community Service workers will be responsible for identifying problem parents under the new regime promised by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. They will have the power to ask Centrelink to take control of all government welfare payments to families they consider a risk, including the family tax benefits, income support and the baby bonus. The new policy answers criticism from welfare and community groups about the potential for the lump sum baby bonus payment to be abused. The Daily Telegraph reported in September 2006 how violent males were getting women pregnant so they could get the baby bonus and flee once the child was born