’No jab, no pay’ policy in Oz
The policy change comes amid a debate over immunisation with some parents believing vaccines against deadly diseases are dangerous.
The anti-vaccination movement has coincided with the resurgence of measles in some European countries as well as in parts of the US.
“It’s essentially a ‘no jab, no pay’ policy from this government,” PM Tony Abbott said.
“It’s a very important public health announcement. It’s a very important measure to keep our children and our families as safe as possible,” he said.
Under current Australian laws, parents who have “conscientious objections” about immunisation can claim childcare and welfare payments.
If the measures are passed those parents would be denied the payments — which include childcare rebates, benefits and family tax benefit supplements — reportedly missing out on up to €10,850 per child annually.
Parents unwilling to vaccinate their children on medical or religious grounds will still be allowed to tap into the benefits, although under tighter eligibility requirements.
The new measures have to be passed by parliament but are supported by the Labour opposition. They are set to come into force at the start of 2016.
Australia has vaccination rates of over 90% for children aged one to five years.
However, the government said more than 39,000 children aged under seven were not vaccinated because of their parents’ objections — an increase of more than 24,000 children over the past decade.
Abbott said his government was extremely concerned about the risks such actions posed to the rest of the population.
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