Fed: Retail trade expected to spike due to family payment; Swan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2004
Fed: Retail trade expected to spike due to family payment; Swan

Labor says an expected spike in the latest retail trade figures is further indication
that the government's one-off $600 child bonus should have been paid in instalments.

Opposition family spokesman WAYNE SWAN has consistently said the money should have
been paid over a longer period rather than as a lump sum.

He says there were reports over the weekend about gambling being up and there'll be
a fair bit of reporting about retail figures, due out this morning.

He says he wants to make the point that it's the HOWARD government's irresponsible
and reckless one-off election bribes that's feeding into all of these figures.

Mr SWAN says the country needs long term reform in the family payments system.

Liberal MPs say the average Australian family will spend its $600 child bonus sensibly,
not on grog or gambling.

AAP RTV db/sb/jmt

KEYWORD: CHILD SWAN (CANBERRA)

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