From July 1, 2018, Family Tax Benefit Part A payments will be reduced by about $28 a fortnight for each child who does not meet the immunisation requirements after legislation passed the Senate recently.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the new measures will help ensure the safety of all children in Young.

“The vaccination rate for five year olds in the Murrumbidgee and Western local health districts as of last December was 96.7 per cent, which compares favourably with a national rate of 94 per cent,” he said. “However, we can and should increase this rate to protect all our kids. Immunisation saves lives.

“Since the introduction of vaccination for children in Australia in 1932, deaths from vaccine preventable diseases have fallen by 99 per cent.”

Exemptions still apply for children who have medical contraindications or natural immunity and have been assessed by a GP.