Jilliebee

Just spent $540 on book list, $385 on net book, $524 on uniform and $297 on fees! Glad I only have one child � ����

Amazulu

Hopefully this shite will be gone soon

Let's have lower taxes instead

SillyOldBag

That's a bit harsh. I don't actually disagree with you that it's a strange payment, but whilst it's paid, I will make use of it for the purpose it is intended and thank god (and the australian tax payers) that this payment has been made as it has really made a difference to me.

Beoz

The title says 'bonus'. What for having kids? Right .... Reason for unprotected love making tonight

renth

To be honest I think it's stupid and so is the whole Medicare thing too, huge, huge bureaucracies supporting the churn of money. Terribly wasteful.

The govt. should just get rid of it all (not Medicare pre se but the "gaps" and all that claiming you have to do), Family Tax Benefit etc… and simply lower the income tax rates for everyone and raise the tax free threshold.

Beoz

Outstanding advice. Why didn't the government think of that? Because there's too many pikey labour voters that think cash back on school books is far better than having a lower tax rate.

renth

…and of course, like everything that's subsidised be it schoolbooks, childcare, first homes, solar power the cost of the thing rises to take account of the subsidy (and in the case of first home buyers grants it's multiplied with leverage).

Beoz

Well if you are a first home buyer in Sydney, its a useless grant, unless you want to live with the trash in far western sydney in a pokey new build apartment.

teza

Well gotta say when we arrived, I got all of $23.10 a fortnight from centrelink with OH on grand wage of $26k (1999 with one child). There were no bonuses, baby, school or otherwise, no child care rebates, no yearly top ups to FTB.... Nada.

But then again petrol was 60c, Saturday paper 65c, daycare was $14 or something, Telstra line rental and broadband $10.... And no GST! I think we paid a "massive" rent of $120 a week for a house that currently would charge either side of $500 a week! Aha, them days! Glad I made Renth happy though....

Amazulu

Renth says it best in post #20

A lower income tax rate would have made a difference to you too, and the beauty of lower tax is that everyone benefits

Thankfully this should be the last year that this bribe is paid

Amazulu

spot on

Amazulu

Yep

Lower income tax
Increase GST
Remove all voting bribes (aka allowances, tax breaks, benefits)
Sack the thousands of civil servants that administer the churn, thereby saving even more billions
Lower taxes even more

SillyOldBag

Gracious me, I thought Amazulu was a bit harsh in his choice of words, but conceded that I did agree with him. What is the point in your somewhat aggressively toned comment which appeared to be aimed in my direction?

Beoz

Nothing persoanl. Had to browse back to see who iI responded too. You are a bit directional-less but more being aggressive, like Zulu, towards the govt lack of foresight or better put 'getting the bogan vote'

SillyOldBag

I don't agree that I'm directionless. My stance is merely that whilst a payment is made, I will make good use of it. I won't whine if it goes.