Gillard Government delivers a Happy Mothers’ Day for new mums

Australian mums have an extra reason to celebrate this Mother’s Day, with more than 160,000 expectant and new parents having applied for Paid Parental Leave since the Government introduced the scheme.

Our scheme is helping more mothers take more time off with their new babies in the critical early months.

For many low paid, casual and part time workers, this is the first time they have had this support.

The Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme provides eligible working parents (usually the mother) with up to 18 weeks pay at the National Minimum Wage (currently about $590 a week before tax).

From next year the Gillard Government will extend Paid Parental Leave to provide extra support to new parents with two weeks Dad and Partner Pay.

We are also delivering more assistance for low and middle income families in this year’s Budget – so that mums and dads get the help they need to balance the family budget.

We are delivering a new Schoolkids Bonus to help with the costs of education, as well as increases to FTB Part A starting on 1 July next year.

But Tony Abbott has threatened to take away the payments we announced for families in the Budget.

Mr Abbott and the Liberals have already voted against the Schoolkids Bonus and are now putting at risk:

• A boost to Family Tax Benefit Part A of up to $600 a year.
• Household assistance payments of up to $110 per child a year for families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A and $69 a year for families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part B.