Orphans of soldiers killed or badly injured in service will have their welfare payments cut by the Abbott Government.
About 1,240 children of defence force personnel are paid an "income support bonus" of $211 a year following the death or incapacity of a parent who has served overseas. Included in this group are children aged under 16 who are homeless or living away from home. Young people aged up to 25 whose main income is unemployment, youth or education benefits also qualify for the payment.
All up, the payments cost taxpayers $260,000 a year. The Government is now saying that the money simply isn't there to continue the payments.
"The Government considers that it is not in the interests of the general welfare to continue such bonus payments in the absence of the resources necessary to do so," said Veterans' Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson.
The payments were brought in with the Minerals Resource Rent Tax, which raised far less revenue than the Labor Party expected. The Coalition intends to repeal the mining tax and scrap all the schemes linked to it.
"I am genuinely shocked this Government could be so callous," said Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who was really handed a sitter with this one. "The families of our veterans deserve respect and gratitude. Taking away their modest payments is incredibly insulting."
