Single mothers and the budget

Much of the social policy discussions of sole parents (single mothers), is based on that stereotype. This is a completely inappropriate bundling together of entirely different groups of female parents.

There is no doubt that there exists in various parts of society, young women who do not manage their sexual relations to avoid pregnancy or STDs and who regard pregnancy as a means of escaping from school or dull work, or irritating families.

They anticipate that a baby will ensure they get 'paid' by the Government, potentially a public housing flat and an opportunity to dump the infant with another family member while they continue their lives.

It is entirely appropriate to develop strategies to assist these young people to re-engage with education and society, to learn parenting skills and to become good parents. If they come from a family with a similar persistent behaviour pattern, it is important to intervene to try to break the damaging cycle.

But the vast majority of single parents (even teenage single parents) are not similarly dysfunctional.

We should devise policies that are enabling, and most importantly, which avoid stigmatising these women.

[1]Playford (SA), Hume (Vic), Shepparton (Vic.),Burnie (Tas.),Bankstown (NSW),Wyong (NSW), Shellharbour (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), Logan (Qld), Kwinana (WA).