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Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to Pay Carers and Pensioners Bonus in Lump Sum
In an effort to quell the growing unrest surrounding the uncertainty of bonuses offered to carers and pensioners Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said the government would provide a lump sum payment to each eligible participant when the next budget is announced on May 13.
That lump sum is said to be $1600 for carers while pensioners will receive a $500 bonus.
There had been reports that Rudd was planning on scrapping the bonuses as part of the government’s spending cuts but the Opposition made sure to pressure the government into continuing with the payments.
Brendan Nelson, Opposition Leader, spoke before Parliament in defense of the lump sum payment saying, “When you're with them (carers) at three o'clock in the morning, and they haven't slept for 24 hours, and they've got not one but two severely autistic children, I can tell you, Prime Minister, that a lump-sum payment is everything.
"If you're hanging out for that lump sum payment, it is absolutely essential to your budgeting. It's the difference between sinking and swimming.”
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