Helen and Brian MacDonald believe the children they have raised for the past 6½ years are the ''best two foster kids in Australia.''

But they have decided they will not look after them any more because the state government has cut payments to foster carers of 16- and 17-year-olds, from January 1. In most cases households will be $214 a fortnight worse off.

''We're not doing this out of greed'' … Helen and Brian MacDonald yesterday with their foster children Sheila and Declan. Credit:Shane Chalker

''It's a shocking thing to do,'' says Mrs MacDonald of the couple's decision. ''But we feel we are being emotionally blackmailed by a minister [Pru Goward] that doesn't care about the children in her care, only about money. They're betting on carers just keeping the children.''

The MacDonalds have refused to sign a placement agreement for Sheila* who is 17 and doing her HSC because it requires them to agree to the new payment. When Declan* turns 16 in May they will decline to care for him, too.