Paid Parental Leave

Legislation enacting Australia's first national paid parental leave (PPL) scheme passed through Parliament on 17 June 2010. The scheme, which commences on 1 January 2011, will provide eligible working parents who are primary carers with 18 weeks of parental leave pay at the national minimum wage (currently $570 before tax). Primary carers will be eligible if they;

• Have worked continuously with one or more employers for at least 10 of the 13 months before the expected date of birth or adoption;
• Have worked at least 330 hours in those 10 months (which is equivalent to approximately one full day of work each week); and
• Have an adjusted taxable income of $150 000 or less in the financial year prior to the date of birth or adoption of the child.