Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Monday that parents who are not willing to vaccinate their children can lose more than $10,000 in welfare benefits per year under a new government policy.
As of now, parents are allowed to choose not to undergo vaccinations for religious reasons, medical reasons, or by claiming that they are “conscientious objectors.” And the parents can still receive taxpayer funded childcare benefits.
But according to the new “no jab, no pay” policy, the conscientious objector exemption will no longer be an option. It is set to be removed by January 2016.
Abbott and Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said in a joint statement that a family’s choice to forego vaccinating their children is “not supported by public policy or medical research.” Therefore, it should not be “supported by taxpayers in the form of child care payments.”
The new law could make thousands of families lose welfare payments. The American Register reported that the benefit for childcare stands at $205 per week, which adds up to nearly $10,000 per year. And the rebate for childcare is worth nearly $7,500 per year. The total amounts vary, of course, based on family circumstances.
The Australian government estimated that nearly 39,000 children under the age of seven have not been vaccinated due to currently accepted objections, according to CNN. In addition, the government stated that the number of children who have not been vaccinated for measles and other diseases has doubled to more than 24,000 over the last decade.
Abbott explained that existing exemptions on medical or religious terms will still be handed out, but the religious exemption guidelines will be stricter. Morrison called it a “significant narrowing.”
He said that religious exemptions will require “the formal position of that religious body” being advised to and approved by the government. He also said that no mainstream religious groups have formally refused immunizations.
Several citizens have already spoken out against the law. More than 7,000 people have already signed a petition opposing the reforms.
