FED:Paid parental leave one month away

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2010
FED:Paid parental leave one month away

BRISBANE, Dec 1 AAP - With just one month to go before the start of the federal government's
paid parental leave scheme, almost 3500 families have already signed up.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin says 148,000 families are expected to be eligible for
the Parental Leave Pay scheme each year.

They will be eligible for 18 weeks' leave after the birth of a child, with two weeks
reserved for the father or same-sex partner, to be paid at the minimum wage rate of $570
per week.

As of Wednesday, the federal government had received only 3450 applications Australia
wide, including 700 from Queensland.

Ms Macklin said the number was small because applications could be lodged three months
before a child's due date, and more families would apply throughout the year.

"Babies that are due later in the year, we won't have them registered yet," Ms Macklin
told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

"This is the first time people have been able to do their paperwork in advance.

"So you can get the paperwork done for paid parental leave, for family tax benefit,
for the baby bonus, for the maternity immunisation.

"Get that all done before the baby comes along, which we know is a very, very busy time."

Ms Macklin said the scheme would help women stay connected to the workforce, boost
workforce participation and give families more choices to balance work and family.

From July next year, the majority of employers would be paymasters for the scheme,

Ms Macklin said, adding the federal government would provide them with funding in advance
so they're not out of pocket.

"This is very good for business, to keep their employees connected with their business,"

Ms Macklin said.

Meanwhile, Ms Macklin said she didn't believe mothers would delay caesarean births
to meet the January 1 start date.

It comes after a shocking study found in November 2007, that almost 700 mothers delayed
giving birth so they could receive higher baby bonus payments, which were increased by
$800.

"As I know, as a mother myself, I wouldn't have done anything that risked the health
of my baby, and I'm sure that's what Australian mothers will do," she said.

It's estimated the scheme will cost the federal government $260 million a year.

To be eligible, the primary carer must have been working - full-time or casually -
for at least 10 of the 13 months, and for at least 330 hours, before their child's birth
or adoption.

The primary carer must earn less than $150,000 a year.

People are urged to call Centrelink for more details.

AAP ka/crh/jl

KEYWORD: PARENTAL UPDATE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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