Children are entitled to a childhood. Those who rob them of this are predators and should be brought to account.

 

Four matters have come to light recently regarding this - 

 

1. A key point from the Sexual Integrity Conference which was held over two days in Parliament House Canberra last year was that two thirds of sexual assaults in Australia are committed on children. The growing availability of the worst forms of pornography is now available on the internet and is increasingly being accessed by children – who are the least empowered to resist.  It is now possible for internet service providers such as Telstra to block internet sites that portray illegal forms of gross porn so that they are not available in Australia. The federal government has chosen not to require this of the service provisors. A number of businesses and government departments are using this blocking technique but public libraries and some schools are not.  Both the federal ALP and Family First have policies that support internet blocking by service providers but the Government is resisting the pressure to legislate for this.  A DVD and booklet of the highlights of the Sexual Integrity Conference are available in the parish for purchase at $8 for both

2.  “ Bratz”  are dolls, some of which are dressed in sexually alluring underwear that are available in the shops, presumably for children. Remember when Barbie first came on the market there was quite a stir but these little darlings make Barbie look quite demure.

3. Early morning TV music video programs on the weekend would be considered by most people to be unsuitable for children due the sexually graphic content.

4. The Australia Institute has recently pointed to the way in which young children are sexualised in advertising, labelling this ‘corporate paedophilia.’. The Director of the Institute , Dr Clive Hamilton, in launching the report said, “... children are increasingly being portrayed in clothing and posed in ways designed to draw attention to adult sexual features that they do not yet possess. Children are being eroticised in the interest of the corporate bottom line.” 

LET CHILDREN

BE CHILDREN

DO YOU KNOW YOUR FAMILY PAYMENT ENTITLEMENTS?

FAMILY TAX BENEFIT (A)

FTB(A) is a means tested payment available on a per child basis to families. It is in two parts:

 

1: The Maximum Rate is available to families on incomes of less than $40,000, at which it begins to reduce at the rate of 20c in the dollar until it reaches the Base  Rate. It pays:

$70.42 pw for a child under 13 $89.88 pw for a child 13-15

$22.68 pw for 16-18 year olds

$30.52 pw for 18-24 year olds.

 

2: The Base Rate of FTB(A) is $22.68 for under 18’s and $30.52 for  dependent students 18-24, not in receipt of Youth Allowance. It is meanstested at a family income of $88,622 (plus $3,504 for every extra child) after which it reduces at a rate of 30c in the dollar, cutting out at for example, $94,718 for one child.

 

All FTB(A) recipients also receive the FTB(A) Supplement of $646,95 per child at the end of the financial year.

 

FAMILT TAX BENEFIT (B)

FTB(B) is available to families on one main income, where the youngest child is under 16 (or 18 if a dependent student).

 

Where the youngest child is under 5 the rate is $60.48 pw, while the over 5 rate is $42.14 pw.

It is available to sole parents, to  fulltime carers in a partnered

relationship, and to secondary earners whose income is less than $4234 pa, after which it reduces at 20c in the dollar until it cuts out at $21,572pa for a child under 5, and $16,790 for an over 5 year old.

 

CHILD CARE BENEFIT

CCB is also available at a maximum and minimum rate.

 

1: The maximum rate for under 5’s in approved care, which includes most formal child care, is $2.96ph for one child, $3.09 ph per child for two children in care, and $3.21 ph per child for three children in care. It can be claimed for 24 hours per week, or 50hours if it is required for paid work, study or for a child with a disability. The maximum rate is available to those with family incomes of less than $34,310 per year, after which the payment decreases till it reaches:

 

2: The minimum rate of $0.497 per hour per child at an income of $98,348 (one child). This rate is also available to all those using registered but not approved care (eg; nannies).

 

CHILD CARE REBATE

A 30% tax rebate on child care expenses is now available up to $4,000 for those using approved care, who receive the CCB and who meet the CCB work, training, study test.

BITS AND PIECES

In the early years of our existence we were regularly approached by students for assistance with and resources for assignments at both secondary and tertiary levels. This happens less frequently now days but when it does the students are usually most grateful. One secondary school girl from Blakehurst in NSW recently wrote to express her thanks after we helped her to prepare a task for her legal studies course. - I would just like to thank you once again for all your help during my assessment. You'll be glad to know that I completed my speech with fluency and precision.. and it was all thanks to you!  S.D

Food for Thought: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

 Margaret Mead

 

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A Christmas Wish

Let Christmas not become a thing

Merely of merchant’s trafficking

Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath

And surface pleasure, but beneath

The childish glamour, let us find

Nourishment for soul and mind,

Let us follow kinder ways

Through our teaming human maze.

And help the age of peace to come

From a Dreamer’s martyrdom.

Madeline Morse