Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, I thank the member for Robertson. Not only is she doing as much as she can for families, but also I know that she, as a former teacher, cares enormously about what is happening in schools in her electorate. I can inform the member for Robertson that Australian families want a family payment system that is fair. They also want to make sure that they get that extra help when they need it most, and of course that does mean when kids are going back to school. There are 8,450 families in Robertson receiving the Schoolkids Bonus—that is, $410 for every primary school child, $820 for every secondary school child. What we know is that for all of those nearly 8½ thousand families in Robertson it is making a difference and lending them a helping hand when they need it.

By contrast, and I am sure the member for Robertson will be telling families in her electorate exactly this, the Leader of the Opposition will be coming around to every one of those families in Robertson, telling them that he intends to take the money straight off them. They will no longer get the support provided by this government through the Schoolkids Bonus that they need so much.

See this speech in context