ORPHANS of soldiers killed or badly injured in service will have their welfare payments cut with the Abbott Government arguing it cannot afford them.
About 1240 children of defence force personnel have been paid an “income support bonus” of $211 a year since March last year following the death or incapacity of a parent who has served overseas. Read More
The ADSO believes this is a bad decision targeting a vulnerable small number kids in the defence family for an inconsequential saving. It was unannounced and we were not advised. Had we been we would have counseled against it very strongly. It is beyond belief that the $260,000 could not have been found within the federal budget without detriment to any other program or without adding to the overall debt.