Paid parental leave still subject of negotiations with states: Hockey
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Version 0 of 1. The paid parental leave scheme has not been detailed in the 2014 budget because the federal government is negotiating with the states on the details, Joe Hockey said. “We are still negotiating with the states about the scheme and as you know we’ve reduced the threshold from $150,000 to $100,000,” the treasurer said. “I notice there weren’t many journalists criticising us for breaking that promise.” Hockey’s office said the funding was contained in the contingency reserve. On Wednesday he said that due to the interaction with family tax benefits, which had been changed in the budget, the details were still being finalised. The budget simply states the scheme would “support mothers to remain engaged with their employer and help address the disparity between the average retirement incomes of men and women”. Labor’s paid parental leave act – which is still in force – is estimated to cost $1.9bn for 2014-15 but details of Abbott’s scheme, due to start in July 2015, have not been set out. The scheme pays mothers their full pay, including super contributions, at a rate up to $100,000 for 26 weeks, partly paid for by a levy on big business. |