IF the Gillard Government can't give up to $190 million in childcare assistance away, it does beg the question: do all these mums and dads really need it?

It can't be that the forms are long and confusing and that you need six different barcodes for your child and your childcare centre.

True, some families might not realise they can claim for after-school care. But other families must have sensibly decided they don't need it.

There's no doubt the rising cost of childcare is a burden on many young families.

The Government has sought to address costs with generous childcare assistance to give families back the choice to work and contribute to national wealth -- if they want to.

For others, having a stay-a-home parent is a luxury they can't afford.

But the rise and rise of welfare benefits that are available to all, such as the original Howard government baby bonus, now with a combined income test of $150,000 generously applied only in the first six months after the birth, has to stop.   


As the nation faces the reality of an ageing population and a hospital bill that the states cannot afford, tough decisions will need to be made.

Watch this year's federal Budget for the Gillard Government to announce further cuts to middle-class welfare or a tougher means test.

They are unlikely to attack childcare rebates in a big way because childcare costs are a massive cost of living for swinging voters.


Comments on this story

    *
     Phil Informed of Lower Temp Posted at 11:13 AM February 13, 2011

         Give this Childcare Assistance a cut off date then use whats left over to help clean up mess caused by the floods.

    *
     DaffyFroz of Central Vic Posted at 10:39 AM February 13, 2011

         Handing welfare out to families on over $100K is crazy. They haven't thought this out and I do not count on their being any pension payments around by the time I retire in 25 years, after the baby boomers have sucked the economy dry

    *
     Dazed @ Confused of Good ol' Oz Posted at 10:09 AM February 13, 2011

         The "baby bonus" should be scrapped ! If you can't afford kids, don't breed, and don't expect the tax payer to foot for the flash cash parents have the luxury of these days. Half the time that tax payer funded rort is blown on luxury items and not the kids any way !