Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am really pleased that our hardworking police and our extraordinarily committed and dedicated military personnel are getting a good Paid Parental Leave scheme. Frankly, I want all Australians to get the best possible Paid Parental Leave scheme. There is absolutely nothing that we are doing to reduce or remove anyone's employer provided Paid Parental Leave scheme—absolutely nothing. Under us, every person will get at least 18 weeks at the minimum wage. Every person will get it. If they get nothing from their employer, they will get it from the government. If they get less than that from their employer, it will be topped up by the government. If they get more than that from their employer, that is great—they have a very good scheme. What we do not want to see is Commonwealth public servants getting two lots of paid parental leave from the taxpayer—that is all. Members opposite seem to think that it is fair for Commonwealth public servants to get two lots of paid parental leave from the taxpayer.

This is from the Leader of the Opposition who said that this was going to be the year of ideas. So far, the only idea we have had from him in the post-budget period is that Commonwealth public servants should get two lots of taxpayer funded paid parental leave. Tonight, he has a chance to rise above mindless negativity and actually tell us—

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