What a great legacy for John Howard – his “baby bonus”, a grubby and cynical vote-buying exercise for the 2004 Federal Election has resulted in a mini- baby-boom.

It has also resulted in a more than 66% increase in interventions by the Child Protection Agency (from 600 in 2000-2001 to over 1000 last financial year). And that’s just from the first few batches of baby-bonus babies.

Perhaps the people who think a $3000 “bonus” (as introduced in 2004, now increased to $5000) is a good reason to have a baby are precisely the kind of people who shouldn’t be having babies.

“Cool, $5000 if i have a baby”. or worse, “Cool, $5000 if i make my girlfriend have a baby”. Great reasons to have a baby. Thank you, Mr Howard.

At least we now all know the answer to the question “How many abused and neglected babies is a vote worth”?

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