While Fisher told parliament that the aim was to help mothers in their time of need, the intention was also to increase birth and infant survival rates in the country.
[4] The baby bonus scheme reintroduced by the Federal Government of Australia in the 2002 budget was aimed at offsetting the expenses associated with bearing a child.
[5] In the 2004 budget, the bonus was raised from $3,000 effective 1 July 2004 to $4,000 payable in 2007 but indexed to inflation so that in October 2007, the amount receivable per eligible child was $4,133.
[8] A baby bonus was introduced in Canada following World War II, paying $5 to $8 monthly to all parents of children under 16.
[9] In 1988, the Quebec government introduced the Allowance for Newborn Children that paid up to $8,000 to a family after the birth of a child.
[10][11] In 2008, Newfoundland and Labrador introduced the Parental Benefits Program, which offered a $1,000 lump sum and $100 payments for the first year after a birth or adoption.
The postnatal allowance can be claimed once the child has turned 2 years old and has undergone 6 medical examinations with a paediatrician.
In April 2016, the PiS government, in response to low fertility rates in Poland, introduced the Family 500+ program.
For Singapore Citizen children born on or after 1 January 2015, the maximum amount of cash gift from the government is S$10,000, which can be spent without any restriction.
Since 24 March 2016, a First Step Grant of up to $3,000 is credited by the Singapore government to each child once a CDA account is opened.
The savings in this account may be used by the child and his/her siblings at the approved institutions for Child Care Centre, Early Intervention Programmes, Healthcare Institutions, Kindergarten, Special Education Centre, Assistive Technology Device Provider, Optical Shop and Pharmacy.
Unutilized balance is automatically carried forward to offset future income tax payable.