The Albanese government is under pressure to abolish the activity test for childcare subsidies in the upcoming May budget, with crossbenchers flagging a fight to push for universal child care in the next federal election. Crossbench MPs and Greens senators detailed their plans to ramp up calls to dump meansContinue Reading
Parents could pay as little as $10 per day for childcare and receive up to 52 weeks of paid parental leave under a new draft law that will seek to make childcare free for low-income families. Early childhood advocates will launch a bill for consultation into parliament on Wednesday alongsideContinue Reading
Australia’s paid parental leave scheme has officially been expanded to 26 weeks after the government’s first tranche of reforms passed through the Senate on Monday. Under the changes, the 20 weeks of paid leave parents can access will be gradually increased up by two weeks each year from July 2024Continue Reading
Australian women could be $3bn a week better off if the gender pay was abolished, new research has revealed. The Australia Institute said on average, women on median earnings would be $1.01m worse off over their working lives because of the ongoing gender pay gap. The gender pay gap –Continue Reading
New parents will be able to access more flexible paid parental leave after major changes passed parliament this week. The government’s legislation, which combines two existing payments into a shared 20-week-scheme; expends access; and makes it easier for new fathers to obtain paid leave is the latest tranche of reformsContinue Reading