The suggestion has been made that the mothers of infants and toddlers on remote indigenous communities be supplied fortnightly with the necessities of a small child - the milk formulas, basic medicaments, disposable nappies, tinned baby food.

The aim is to ensure that no baby fails to thrive because he or she is ever hungry.  The cost would be miniscule compared with the costs of trying to fix up that child later in life because of the lack of proper nutrition in its earliest stages.

Perhaps the $5000 baby bonus could go towards this?  It would cost about $100 a week per child to supply the food, pharmaceuticals and clothing.

Why not?