PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SHOULD GO BEFORE PENSIONS ARE CUT

Media Release

Jenny Macklin MP.

Shadow Minister for Families and Payments

Shadow Minister for Disability Reform

Monday, 21 April 2014

Tony Abbott should cut his unfair and unaffordable Paid Parental Leave Scheme, rather than rip money away from pensioners.

Reports in today’s Australian indicate the Prime Minister is stubbornly refusing to reign in his exorbitant paid parental leave scheme, despite the Commission of Audit recommending it be cut.

This is the clearest display yet of this Prime Minister’s twisted priorities.

Just yesterday, the Government announced it will be making savage cuts to support for people on the Disability Support Pension in this May’s budget.

For weeks, the Government has been preparing the ground for cuts to the Age Pension.

Both these changes will leave millions of vulnerable Australians worse off.   

And all because Tony Abbott refuses to make changes to his signature scheme, which will pay $75,000 to millionaire women to have a baby.

Australians should be very concerned about this Prime Minister’s priorities.

Why should Australia’s most vulnerable people be expected to pay for Tony Abbott’s $5.5 billion cash splash for wealthy women?

If Tony Abbott is so determined to cut, he should start with his paid parental leave scheme, and leave age and disability support pensioners alone.