Fears baby bonus being used to buy alcohol

Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to look at ways to minimise problems in some communities where lump sum family payments have been used to buy alcohol.

Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to look at ways to minimise problems in some communities where lump sum family payments have been used to buy alcohol.Northern Territory Chief Minister Clair Martin raised the issue with Mr Howard during today’s leaders meeting in Canberra.She says there have been problems in Katherine and some other communities with the recent $600 family payment.She says she is worried that it will become worse when the Federal Government starts paying its $3,000 baby bonus next month.Ms Martin says there will now be further talks on how to address that.”For some of our Indigenous communities, to get a payment like the baby payment of $600 in one hit, does create issues with people being able to buy more alcohol and therefore the associated troubles caused with that,” she said. “Now I’m worried about the baby bonus when it comes onboard on July 1.”The Prime Minister was responsive and we’re going to look at ways of managing those payments.”(Source: ABC News: June 2004)