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Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Page: 4311

Budget

Mrs D'ATH (Petrie) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and for Disability Reform. How will the budget spread the benefits of the mining boom to Australian families; why is it important that this support is delivered quickly to those who need it; and what would be the impact if it is not?

Ms MACKLIN (Jagajaga—Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform) (14:21): I thank the member for Petrie very much for her question. The Treasurer last night delivered a Labor budget that is going to bring this country back to surplus and that spreads the benefits of the mining boom. This is a budget that gives back to families, a budget that in true Labor style makes sure that families get the benefit of this boom.

Today I have introduced legislation into this chamber to deliver Australia's schoolkids bonus, a bonus that will see 1.3 million Australian families getting more help to make ends meet. Families would receive $410 a year for each child they have in primary school and $820 a year for each child they have in secondary school, and this would be paid before the start of term 1 and term 3. The fact is that 80 per cent of families were missing out on their full entitlements under the education tax refund. This new schoolkids bonus will make sure that one million Australian families get more money.

On top of that, this budget delivers to 1½ million families extra funding through their family payments from the middle of next year. Families on the maximum rate will receive $600 extra if they have two children or more. That is what this government is delivering in this Labor budget to help families make ends meet.

The member for Petrie asked this question. There are 9,700 families in the electorate of Petrie who are going to benefit from the schoolkids bonus.

Today the Liberals confirmed that they are going to oppose the schoolkids bonus. We found out just before question time that they are loading up the list of speakers for this afternoon because they are trying to avoid bringing on the vote. They are so ashamed of their position.

I say to the member for Riverina that I noticed in the Wagga Daily Advertiser today a lady— (Time expired)