New move … the Federal Government is looking to close loopholes that allow parents to object to vaccinating their kids on philosophical grounds. Picture: Supplied Source: News Corp Australia
PARENTS who philosophically object to giving their children lifesaving vaccines could be prevented from accessing welfare payments and childcare subsidies.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the Abbott Government is reviewing a loophole which continues to allow mums and dads who refuse to immunise their children against deadly diseases on personal or philosophical grounds the right to claim family tax benefits and childcare rebates.
Under the national immunisation program, the government requires all parents to vaccinate their children in order to claim generous family payments and childcare benefits, but there are exemptions available.
Under review … Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison says vaccination exemptions will be examined as the Federal Government puts together its families package. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: News Corp Australia
The move was designed to prevent some parents from opting against vaccinating their children, which compromises the overall immunity of the population and puts other youngsters at risk.
But conscientious objectors only need to fill in a form stating they have a “personal, philosophical, religious or medical belief involving a conviction that vaccination should not take place” to continue accessing welfare payments.
Labor leader Bill Shorten is urging the government to change the rules to crack down on so-called conscientious objectors by adopting the policy it took to the 2013 election, which limits exemptions strictly to religious beliefs only.
“We believe that, unless you’re someone with a really deep held religious view there should be no exceptions and you should be getting your children immunised,” the Opposition leader told Nine’s Weekend Today.
Tough talk … Labor leader Bill Shorten wants exemptions to welfare bans on strict religious grounds only. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: News Corp Australia
“The idea that your child’s going to a childcare centre and that some other parent doesn’t feel they like the science of immunisation, and therefore they come along and your child or anyone else’s child could catch something because some other parent has an opinion, that isn’t really good enough is it,” he said.
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Social Services Minister Scott Morrison confirmed to News Corp that the Federal Government is currently looking at how it can tighten the rules.
“The Government is reviewing the current exemptions on vaccinations that apply to family tax benefit payments and child care subsidies as part of the families package to be delivered this year,” Mr Morrison said.
Important issue … a Galaxy poll showed 86 per cent of Australians want vaccinations to be compulsory. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied
His comments follow a Galaxy opinion poll published in News Corp’s Sunday papers which revealed an overwhelming 86 per cent of all Australians believe vaccinations should be compulsory.
The issue of compulsory vaccination has once again come to the fore after the tragic death of four-week-old Riley Hughes.
Riley, who died of whooping cough last month, was too young to be vaccinated against the disease.
His death has raised fresh concerns that too many parents are opting not to immunise their children.
Originally published as Vaccine objectors face welfare bans