Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I very much thank the member for Robertson for her first question and congratulate her on her outstanding election and her fantastic first speech yesterday. Like her, this government is so pleased to be delivering Australia’s first paid parental leave scheme. From tomorrow parents expecting a baby in the new year will be able to apply for paid parental leave. I know every parent who is in this House would understand just how busy it is when a new baby comes into the family, so what we are doing is changing the arrangements so that parents can apply for paid parental leave and family tax benefit three months before the due date of their baby’s birth. So this will be a very positive move for families.

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