Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has called for a review of the country’s baby bonus, despite his party running a previous election platform that would see the $5000 bonus doubled to $10,000.

 

Senator Joyce made the call after he disputed newspaper reports that suggested he was pushing Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to double the bonus.

 

"I can assure you I don't believe in doubling the baby bonus. I think that would be a ludicrous idea," Senator Joyce told the ABC.

 

"I have, to be honest, serious concerns with the baby bonus as it is especially when it ends up not being spent so much on the baby, but on problems in certain communities - especially such as alcohol."