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Australians have two weeks to get jiggy or lose their $5,000 'baby bonus' Australians have two weeks to get jiggy or lose their $5,000 'baby bonus'
(4 months later)
It's not often a budget gets a whole country jumping into bed, but that's what Australia's seems likely to do – for the next two weeks, at least.It's not often a budget gets a whole country jumping into bed, but that's what Australia's seems likely to do – for the next two weeks, at least.
On Tuesday the Labor government in Canberra scrapped the "baby bonus": $5,000 paid to new parents in 13 fortnightly instalments.On Tuesday the Labor government in Canberra scrapped the "baby bonus": $5,000 paid to new parents in 13 fortnightly instalments.
But the change doesn't come into effect until 1 March 2014, giving Australians just two weeks to get jiggy in order to qualify for the cash.But the change doesn't come into effect until 1 March 2014, giving Australians just two weeks to get jiggy in order to qualify for the cash.
Economists are often sceptical about the effect financial incentives have on personal relationships; Bagehot in the Economist magazine has argued it is "laughable" to think that relatively small marriage tax breaks proposed in Britain would encourage couples to get together or stay together – and people still get divorced, despite the sometimes punitive cost.Economists are often sceptical about the effect financial incentives have on personal relationships; Bagehot in the Economist magazine has argued it is "laughable" to think that relatively small marriage tax breaks proposed in Britain would encourage couples to get together or stay together – and people still get divorced, despite the sometimes punitive cost.
But Australians seem particularly susceptible to such a financial … erm … stimulus. After the baby bonus was introduced in 2002, the Melbourne Institute estimated that it had increased the country's birthrate by 3.2%.But Australians seem particularly susceptible to such a financial … erm … stimulus. After the baby bonus was introduced in 2002, the Melbourne Institute estimated that it had increased the country's birthrate by 3.2%.
In the Melbourne Age, Jacqueline Maley noted that thousands of Australian women would now be thinking of treasurer Wayne Swan – a man "not exactly known for his smooth or seductive appeal" – as they propositioned their partners over the next 14 days. "Men will be high-fiving when they glimpse him on the nightly news," she added.In the Melbourne Age, Jacqueline Maley noted that thousands of Australian women would now be thinking of treasurer Wayne Swan – a man "not exactly known for his smooth or seductive appeal" – as they propositioned their partners over the next 14 days. "Men will be high-fiving when they glimpse him on the nightly news," she added.
Swan himself was apparently unconcerned by the idea Australia could grind to a halt (sorry) as couples get busy before the unofficial deadline in two weeks' time. Labor is flagging in the polls and he may have hoped cheering the country up a bit might give the party a boost. And if not, well, no hard feelings.Swan himself was apparently unconcerned by the idea Australia could grind to a halt (sorry) as couples get busy before the unofficial deadline in two weeks' time. Labor is flagging in the polls and he may have hoped cheering the country up a bit might give the party a boost. And if not, well, no hard feelings.
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