Paid Parental Leave policies.

[Rorschach]

As usual Labor lies when it comes to the much more generous PPL of the Libs/Coalition. Of course this also means The Greens are also lying. It isn't unfair or aimed at benefiting the rich above others.

There are many such schemes all over the world. Many more generous than what any parties are offering here. For instance many countries offer a longer period of leave, something I agree with.

Currently I also agree with capping it at $100,000 not $150,000, but I do understand the reasons for both suggestions. For now I don't believe we can afford the more generous package. I also think that it may not make it through the senate without at least amendments, 1 of which may be capping it at $100,000, perhaps Abbott is making an ambit claim and expects this to happen.

[Rorschach]

Labor has introduced the first government-funded paid parental leave scheme, paying 18 weeks’ leave at the national minimum wage and two weeks’ paid leave for partners.

The Coalition will offer a far more generous scheme of 26 weeks’ paid parental leave at normal wage – up to $150,000 – or the minimum wage if it is higher than the mother’s wage. Partners receive two weeks’ paid leave on the same terms.

The Greens proposed a “middle way” on paid parental leave, of 26 weeks’ leave at the national minimum wage – more generous than Labor’s but less generous than Tony Abbott’s plan.

World policy comparisons...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Neferti]

The Public Service has always had paid maternity leave ... 18 weeks at FULL pay. They are able to take more time off if they opt for half pay and use some of their long service leave/holiday leave to add to time off, so they can stretch the time off to more than 6 months.

Salaries of public servants are a lot more than the average female employee would get (ranges from approx $60,000 pa to a lot more than $150,000 pa).

Tony is proposing 26 weeks at HALF pay, isn't he? Not as generous as the public servants get. Why shouldn't all females be able to take time off at half pay after they have a baby?

[Rorschach]

The Coalition will offer a far more generous scheme of 26 weeks’ paid parental leave at normal wage – up to $150,000 – or the minimum wage if it is higher than the mother’s wage. Partners receive two weeks’ paid leave on the same terms.

[Neferti]

The Coalition will offer a far more generous scheme of 26 weeks’ paid parental leave at normal wage – up to $150,000 – or the minimum wage if it is higher than the mother’s wage. Partners receive two weeks’ paid leave on the same terms.

OK. Thought it was at half pay.

[Rorschach]

Nah... just 1/2 a year nef.

[Rorschach]

3 years leave...

Central European countries have the longest parental leave regulations in the world regarding parental leave.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it is standard that mothers stay at home for 3 years after a child's birth, which may extend with additional children. Mothers can decide to take 2, 3 or 4 years of maternity leave. It is also possible for the fathers to take the leave instead of the mothers but it is not common. For the whole period mothers are supported by the state.

In Slovakia the standard duration of parental leave is 3 years; for a child with a disability it is up to 6 years. The state pays support of 256 euros per month for the child's first 2 years, reducing to 164.22 euros per month thereafter. A similar model is also used in Austria where mothers can choose between 1 and 3 years.

[Rorschach]

SWEDEN and NORWAY...

Sweden provides working parents with an entitlement of 16 months paid leave per child at 80 percent pay, the cost being shared between employer and the state. To encourage greater paternal involvement in child-rearing, 2 months out of the 16 is reserved for the "minority" parent, in practice usually the father, and some Swedish political parties on the political left argue for legislation to oblige families to divide the 16 months equally between both parents.

Norway has similarly generous leave. In Estonia mothers are entitled to 18 months of paid leave, starting up to 70 days before due date. Fathers are entitled to paid leave starting from the third month after birth (paid leave is however available to only one parent at a time).

[Rorschach]

UK...

In the UK, female employees are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity (or adoption) leave, 39 weeks of which is paid, planned to rise to 52 weeks paid, with the first six weeks paid at 90% of full pay and the remainder at a fixed rate (£128.73/week as of 2011). Employees have to follow notification rules and might also be entitled to statutory maternity pay (SMP), depending on their length of service and average earnings by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC). Most employers offer a more generous policy. Annual leave continues to accrue throughout the maternity leave period. A spouse or partner of the woman (including same-sex relationships) may request a two week paid (at a fixed rate) paternity leave. Both the mother and her partner can additionally request non-paid parental leave, which can be for up to 4 weeks annually, with a current limit of 13 weeks.

On 13 November 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced plans to reform the law in this area from 2015, enabling mothers and fathers to "share" parental leave. A consultation on this followed in March 2013.

[Rorschach]

Denmark...

52 weeks at 100% pay. 18 to be taken by the mother, 2 weeks by the father, the rest as they see fit.