Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Griff. In relation to the costings, I am advised that it is $27 million per year as opposed to just $27 million. In relation to the comments you made about sexist discrimination, that is not what I said. I am being verballed in that regard. I will again outline the statement that I made: the requirement in the PPL scheme for a mother to have primary eligibility for paid parental leave reflects that the payment is primarily designed to assist mothers to take time out of the workforce to care for their newborn or recently adopted child, to enhance the health and development of the child and to allow time for the mother to recover from the birth.

In the opening statement that I provided in response to your first questions, I stated that the time-critical nature of this bill, which provides critical flexibility in the Paid Parental Leave scheme, precludes the government from considering other changes to the scheme at this time. Any changes to the means-testing arrangements would require consultation and investigation to ensure we strike the right balance. I also stated that whilst we remain open to discussion about further opportunities for improvement—in answer to the question that you have just put—our immediate concern is delivering on the commitment for increased flexibility that has been widely supported.