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Article No Contraception. No Dole. Say what now?

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Former federal Labor MP Gary Johns has proposed compulsory contraception for women on welfare benefits.

In his new book, ‘No Contraception, No Dole’, Mr Johns argues for compulsory contraception for all women on welfare.

“If someone is on an unemployment benefit, they should be looking for work not starting a family. If someone’s on a parenting payment, perhaps because they are a single mum, they should be looking after existing children not having more children. And if someone’s on Youth Allowance, they’re a very young woman, they should be studying not starting a family,” Mr Johns told A Current Affair.

“When she comes off the benefit – whether she has a job or a new relationship, new support – she comes off the contraception,” he said.

Social commentator and feminist Jane Caro is appalled by Mr Johns’ proposal.

“We let them starve? We let them beg on the street, do we? How does this work? It’s the most appalling idea,” Ms Caro told A Current Affair.

“I’m not prepared to say that every mother on welfare is doing a bad job, or will necessarily bring up a child who themselves will end up on welfare. That may well happen and it may be a greater risk, but that doesn’t mean we judge everyone the same.”

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  • This is such a hard problem to solve – so many young lasses are having children for the wrong reasons, and there are others who are genuine about bringing up their family as well as they can. I’m afraid I don’t know the answer, but have to admit it is a problem that must be solved as no country can continue to pay out welfare when there is less and less income coming in.

    Reply

  • Wow two to make a baby but yet its the woman that is punished. I agree something needs to be done but I dont think this is the right thing

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  • Gary Jones got a point but of course they need to fine tune on the idea for people who actually need it get it.

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  • This is a catch 22 problem. This is a man, telling women how to behave! Misogynist much?
    Besides how do you enforce this ‘law’? How do you check that they are taking contraception? Also contraception doesn’t work for everyone. I know of a couple pill babies. No form of contraception is 100% effective. Make contraception cheaper or free a d that will be a step in the right direction.
    Check that the people with loads of kids are actually spending the money on what it was supposed to be for.

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  • no maybe put in free contraception programs instead so people can take it up if they chose to.

    Reply

  • Contraception is not for every one! Some people can’t take it due to heart problems or other hormonal gland issues. Does he realise that he is literally telling women to mess with their hormones? Just another stuck up politician with a better than you complex. How about we take his job away and tell him he can only have it back if he has a vasectomy! Get your head out of your a hole!

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  • so what\’s next compulsory contraception for disabled people or compulsory micro-chipping so we can keep tabs on them where does it end? No one has the right to impose contraception on anyone it is their body!!

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  • I think he kind of has a point here. Not saying that its a one size fits all kind of thing but I know of some ladies having babies just so they don’t have to work. These kids are often neglected as the mothers spend any benefit money on themselves. On the other hand, there are people out there who need these benefits because of other circumstances. It’s a hard one.

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