Thursday, August 31, 2006

Having Kids On Welfare A Growing Trend

Latest parliamentary questions have revealed that 27,219 DPB clients had added one or more children to their benefit at June 2006, according to welfare commentator Lindsay Mitchell.

"The previous Minister of Social Development, Steve Maharey, refused to support the view that the DPB is a lifestyle choice for many young women because there was no research to support it."

"The fact that thousands of women continue to grow their families courtesy of the taxpayer is evidence aplenty that the DPB has become a lifestyle."

"Maharey's refusal to acknowledge the statistics is partly why the number has shot up from 23,160 in October 2004. The habit appears to be catching."

"It'll be interesting to see if current Minister, David Benson-Pope will continue with this blinkered approach to a growing problem. We can afford neither the social nor financial costs associated with thousands upon thousands of fatherless children."

"It is a negligent government that refuses to address this issue."
Source PQ 8548 (2006), PQ15992 (2004)

ENDS

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