Australian parents who want to exercise their right not to vaccinate their kids, better be prepared to start pay for that privilege. The country’s new federal budget will see parents who don’t vaccinate losing AUD$14 per week (around USD$10.45) from their family tax benefit payments.
The new measure will be put in place in July 2018, and it is expected to raise millions of dollars while those who don’t want to vaccinate their kids being punished.
Families who want to catch up on their vaccines will be able to do so for free under a $14 million program. The Australian government will also spend $5 million to promote the benefits of vaccination in areas that have lower immunization rates.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s “No Jab, No Play” policy excludes kids who haven’t been vaccinated from going to preschool or childcare unless they have an official medical exemption. Laws that prevent unvaccinated children from going to school already exist in some parts of Australia.
Some Australian children are already being denied medical treatment because their immunizations are not up to date.
Australian government seems to think this financial punishment will serve as quite a deterrent for anti-vaxxers.