Matt Kean struggles to answer basic questions on Coalition’s ‘super for kids’ policy
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has struggled to answer basic questions over his party’s signature ‘super for kids’ policy.
State Election
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Treasurer Matt Kean has been caught out unable to answer basic questions about the government’s signature Kids’ Future Fund policy.
The man tasked with controlling the purse strings of the state struggled to answer whether children born outside of NSW to NSW residents would qualify for the scheme, repeatedly saying Premier Dominic Perrottet – who wasn’t present – would answer the questions.
The Treasurer sidestepped questions about the key government policy, refusing to clarify whether children born outside of the state would be eligible for it.
“Those details are available but my understanding is that people living in New South Wales are eligible,” Mr Kean said when
“The Premier will answer those questions. Again, this is about ensuring that we ensure that our kids have financial security so that they get the best start in life.”
When pressed, he again stated: “Well, again, the details of those policies will be talked about by the Premier”.
The Premier, when asked on Tuesday if a child has to be born in NSW to access the fund, answered “Yes”.
The government later moved to hose down fears that families living on the border could miss out if they crossed state lines to have their child.
Mr Perrottet on Tuesday also revealed the ambitious policy will cost $525m for the year 2041 at the height of the scheme.
But Mr Kean was unable to answer if the Coalition had costed the policy to include children born outside of NSW, again saying “every child” in the state would be able to access the scheme.
“The intention is for every child in New South Wales to be able to access this scheme so we can set them up for financial security when they turn 18,” he said.
The gaffe was seized on by the Treasurer’s Labor counterpart, Daniel Mookhey.
“If the government can‘t explain their policy before the election, no one should trust them to implement it after the election and I would have expected that a marquee policy like this would have been able to be explained by the treasurer,” he said.
It can now be revealed that interstate migrants who move to NSW with a newborn will never be able to set up a government-run savings fund for their child.
If a family moves to NSW from interstate, any children they already have will never be eligible.
Children of overseas migrants born in NSW will only be eligible once at least one parent is a citizen.
In that scenario, a child born in NSW would be eligible if one parent is a citizen and the other is a permanent resident.
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