Paid Parental Leave Now Available to Dads

The Federal Government’s paid parental leave scheme is to be extended to fathers in addition to mothers under proposed legislation to be introduced to parliament. However, the leave will be non transferable and is only available for two weeks.

Fathers will be subject to the same eligibility requirements as mothers, including the work test. They will still be eligible for it even if the mother doesn’t qualify for the scheme herself.

In our new “gay friendly” parliament, otherwise known as Bob’s Parliament, gay fathers of adopted children will be able to claim the allowance. As to which gay father get’s the full twelve weeks and who goes back to work, it’s expected to be at the discretion of the household.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin lauded the new measures as a fair compromise for father’s who have traditionally used annual leave days to stay home in the first weeks of child rearing.

Tony Abbot is yet to comment on the measures proposed by the Gillard Government but he is expected to support such a measure, though he will likely approach it differently. Abbot has been a strong supporter of parental leave for new parents, a stance that he has likely taken to improve his appeal to his most difficult demographic: women.

Tagged Jenny Macklin, paid parental leave, Tony Abbot