LSK - up until Jan 1, 2009, baby bonus is paid in a lump sum unless you're under 18, or you choose to have installments. from Jan 1, it will be paid in 13 equal installments


BABY BONUS is not an entitlement - it was a bonus created to help in population growth - the goverment realised that, once the baby boomer generation entered aged pension age, we'd have a massive reduction in skilled workers in the country, a massive reduction in the number of tax payers, and the pension/welfare system would be under a massive amount of strain. by encouraging people now to have children, 20 years from now, they would be entering the work force and helping to support those baby boomers entering the age pension age. it was always a BONUS, no matter what name it was given - hence the reason it was given to everyone

from this year, with the Labour government taking over, the population growth wasn't seen as such an issue, so the baby BONUS was no longer a bonus for everyone, it became part of the welfare system and, as such, is only available to those considered to be on lower incomes (less than $75k in the six months after bub is born). as a result, not everyone is now "entitled" to the payment - you have to meet the eligibility criteria just like you do for every other welfare payment on offer

personally, i don't believe that receiving additional payments over a period of 13 weeks is enough to help a new parent - ideally, i would like to see a PROPER federally funded maternity scheme that takes into account the income of the SAHP and pays appropriately for a period of at least 6 months - if you're a FT SAHP, then minimum wage, but if you're someone that has a higher paying job, then you should be able to get a percentage of that, to a maximum amount (so as not to be excessive). supplement wages by more than the pitiful amount of FTB you get if you return to PT work when you were full time before bubs etc. it should be your choice as to whether you or your partner stay home - but ultimately, until something like this comes in, there is nothing the goverment, or anyone else, can do. trading off child care entitlement for baby bonus/maternity payment/whatever title we want to use, just isn't appropriate.

ideal world - federally funded maternity scheme, not a pitiful baby "bonus"
ideal world - goverment regulated child care - make sure there are enough places, and cap on fees to stop profiteering

just wish i knew how to make the idea world come visiting AU!