Federal Government's Dad and Partner Pay kicks in from this year

[grandmoon]

The new Dad and Partner Pay comes into effect today under changes made to the Paid Parental Leave Act, allowing fathers to take government-funded time off for their newborns, sharing the primary carer's responsibilities and offering more support.

Eligible fathers will be paid about $606 per week before tax at the rate of the current national minimum wage - and this could be on top of any paid parental leave being received by the mother or other family assistance being received.

[soul_art]

Grandmoon, clair wants to know if your daughter graduated from the SwedishFinishing School and if so, has she emailed her results to the mods, as they may restore her privileges, seeing how hard she has been working on her manners etc ??:-D

[twinkles**stars]

Grandmoon, clair wants to know if your daughter graduated from the SwedishFinishing School and if so, has she emailed her results to the mods, as they may restore her privileges, seeing how hard she has been working on her manners etc ??:-D

:O:^O....nearly dropped my cup of tea, naughty soulart

[azureline**]

where is clair? she off to finishing school too? 😮

[catsnknots]

Fathers should be given time this privilege  in this day and age... 

Did anyone read that Jenny Macklin says she can live on the Dole... roflmao  I would like to see that happen... she should live on it for eight months... that would give her all the regular monthly bills plus two quarterly power bills.... and gas bills if she has mains gas... 

http://www.news.com.au/national/i-could-live-on-the-dole-says-families-minister-jenny-macklin/story-fndo4dzn-1226546184170

[freakiness]

Did anyone read that Jenny Macklin says she can live on the Dole... roflmao  I would like to see that happen... she should live on it for eight months... that would give her all the regular monthly bills plus two quarterly power bills.... and gas bills if she has mains gas... 

Did you hear the interview?

The answer is not worth the headlines given it. Whatever she said was going to be headlines. She was pressed to answer the question "Could you live on newstart?" She said her piece and the reporter asked her again to answer the question..... what else could she say but "I could"? Perhaps, "we're not talking about me" I can't see that being any more acceptable to the interviewer.

She did not just say she could live on the dole and so should others be able to.

In the news I keep hearing the figures (losses) reported as weekly instead of fortnightly. I haven't about the FTAs that people will still get.

[lightningdance]

Macklin said she could live on the dole but that comment has now been deleted from the official transcript.

This comment from a woman who earns $900 a day.

Although I agree people should work, & not expect a free ride, if you take the decision to have children, her comments were insensitive & offensive.

If the govt. was a good manager of money this type of penny pinching would not be neccessary.

Labor couldn't get to surplus so out with any sort of fiscal savings to bring down the massive $146 billion national debt.

It's an election year & Gillard didn't wait 2 minutes before she started the big spend. Whether it was budgeted or not they just can't stop spending but now pinches from single mothers which is frightening for them.

I wonder how much this govt is prepared to waste of our money to try to retain power. We've seen that they're capable of just about  anything to cling on.

[*crikey*mate*]

I don't agree with any form of paid parental leave or baby bonus' etc *puts hard hat on* but it is available, so *shrugs*.

I understand why it has been implemented though - it gives people a belief that they can afford to reproduce and incentive to do so, and thus boost our population sooner rather than later (or not at all).

There will always be the unplanned preganancy where an exception to the rule is of benefit and any help is warranted, but on the whole, if a person needs financial incentive to reproduce, should they really be doing it? If a person/family requires financial assistance in the very early days of parenting, should they make a conscious decision to do it?

I'm not sure about anyone else, but those first few months were amongst the less financially draining on the family budget throughout the child's life.

[cherry*135]

Take note that this new payment is only for up to 2 weeks. Hardly an incentive to have a baby only so you can get this payment.

A Dad could take paid leave for a week or 2 after their baby is born to spend time with the baby and help out home. This excludes Dad's  though who are casuals, seasonal workers though.. they would get no pay if they didn't work, which is more likely now than years ago when there were more permanent jobs.

Mortgage/rent & household bills still need to be paid when a new baby is brought home. One parent usually takes time off work to care for the baby and the household income drops because of this. The mother could be a casual worker and not entitled to any paid leave/parental leave.

Dad and Partner Pay is a new payment for dads or partners caring for a new child (including adopting parents and same-sex couples), available under the Paid Parental Leave scheme. If you are an eligible working dad or partner, you can get up to two weeks of government-funded pay at the rate of the National Minimum Wage (currently $606 per week before tax) when you’re on unpaid leave from work or are not working.

It’s another option for taking time off when you welcome a new child into your family. Taking more time off work helps you bond with your child and support your partner, or the child’s main carer, in their new caring role.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/dad-and-partner-pay

[*crikey*mate*]

as I said, I don't agree with even one parent being paid to take time off work for any reason (in this case to tend to a baby/child).

I know there are exceptions to the rules where an unplanned pregnancy occurs, putting the best laid plans into jeopardy, or even a planned impregnation results in an unplanned for multiple pregnancy.

However on the whole, in the case of planned pregnancy, I believe that this needs to be planned for and funded by the people who choose to have children. Time off work for either parent and thus reduced income should (IMO) be taken into consideration during the planning process.

I think it strange that people expect to be paid if they don't work. To me it's simple - if I want an income, I work, if for any reason I choose to forgo that income, then, don't work.

I am yet to come to terms with an employer (or gov) having to pay for a worker who is not working. I liken it to paying for a can of coke, but not being allowed to have that can of coke.

In theory, I am even against holiday pay, but recognize that it is now an assimilated expectation of full time employment and thus the employer takes this into consideration when determining annual wage/salary (within the constraints of the law)