Australian government destroying families and worse!

[foreigncorrespondent]

I have mentioned my troubled teen niece a few times here on DU. Last time could have been when she went missing again. So I thought it was time I sat down and gave an update on the situation and give you guys some real food for thought.

Since the last time she ran away, we haven't been able to get her to come home. She hates her mother and step father (my sister and brother in law) but loves her father, but hates her step mother.

She was in a halfway house troubled teens for a while, but hated all the rules, and having to help with the daily chores of running a household. So she ended up moving in with some other teen (a female.) Now she gets the dole. Because even at 15 year of age, the government will pay kids to stay away from home, if they aren't happy at home.

She had some trouble getting on the dole (I don't know what the actual trouble was) but now she gets it. Her first cheque included some back payments and was over $900.00 in total. What did she spend her money on (in the first day?) Her rent, designer clothing, drugs, and booze. At 15 years old.

Now she gets her regular payments, she gets paid in the morning, and by the afternoon her money is gone on more designer clothes, drugs and booze (at this stage I don't know if she is keeping up her rent payments.)

So the Australian government is paying kids to stay away from homes where they were NEVER abused, and further to become drug addicts, and alcoholics.

The reason my niece wasn't happy at home? Because her mother wouldn't allow her to have boys over to spend the night. That is her only reason. (She is currently seeing a guy who is 20yrs of age.)

Now my question is, should the government be allowed to interfere with families like this? Without knowing the full story behind the actual situation? Without ever knowing that child, their mentality, etc? And further what can be done about this?

I heard last night that there is a new call to make laws (regarding parents smacking their kids) a lot stronger. Now don't get me wrong here, I don't believe in children being abused. There needs to be tough laws regarding parents who abuse their kids. But in the case of my niece, and I am sure many others, it wasn't an issue of abuse. it was na issue of a kid wanting to be an adult before time.

[Matilda]

1. Going to PM you on this, FC.