The Labor Party has done something the Liberals would never be game enough to do - use a big stick to get kids an education. But they've pulled it off - the new law, already passed in both chambers, will mean that when a teen's baby turns 6 months, they will have to make arrangements with Centrelink to finish Year 12 or have their welfare payments cut off. The first trial of 4,000 will start next year in 10 locations across Australia.
There were only two dissenters of the bill - Greens MP Adam Bandt and Bob Katter. Mr Brandt was worried that it could stigmatize young parents and Katter thought it has strong racial overtones and would lead to a new wave of “child thieving”. He said the new law would only deliver power to a “self-opinionated, know-it-all university-class” of social workers who would then control the young mothers.
Another trial will start in July involving 22,000 long-term unemployed parents aged under 23. They too will have to attend Centrelink meetings and follow a participation plan to help become job ready once their children are at school.
Well done Labor.
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