Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

First of all, by way of clarification, the minister, Mal Brough, made it very clear at the time that the guidelines would operate until such time as the legislation that we are putting forward today made some clarification—because we needed some sort of framework between the time of his announcement and now. The intention was, as he announced then, that the guidelines would only apply until we made those changes.

Regarding the details, I understand that between the beginning of February and early April this year, following implementation of the changed delivery arrangements, 94 per cent of baby bonus claimants aged under 18 years were paid by instalment. In 2005-06 only 16 per cent of under 18-year-old bonus claimants were paid by instalment. So, from February to early April this year, six per cent were paid by lump sum.