Mums urged not to delay births for leave scheme

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDDec 20 2010

Many Australian couples are delaying having a baby in order to access the federal government’s paid parental leave scheme. The scheme begins at the start of the New Year and allows eligible parents to access up to 18 weeks pay at the minimum wage. Figures show that from January 1, 2011 an estimated 148,000 families will be eligible to receive a payment of $570 a week before tax, or $10,260 over 18 weeks.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin urged pregnant mums not to delay the birth to get the bonus. She assured that expectant mothers who gave birth before January 1 would have access to the existing $5,293 baby bonus. She added that the government had been in contact with the Royal College of Obstetricians regarding the safety of the babies. She said, “I think they, like the parents, want to make sure that we have healthy babies born whenever they are deciding to come…The important message to families who are expecting their babies before the first of January is that the baby bonus will continue to be available for the vast majority of parents. So parents who are expecting a baby before the first of January can still apply for the baby bonus and family tax benefit.”