Wow ... I feel like I’ve just stumbled into Trump’s Twitter feed.
Printable View
Strange? It's because the current PPL entitlement may be taken by either parent, so logically having both parents off at the same time results in half the entitlement to each. Having both parents entitled to the full amount places a significant financial burden upon the taxpayer, and without peer-reviewed evidence that having both parents present for 26 weeks provides significant benefit for the child, it cannot be justified.
I agree with you. Just wondering why National would consider it a better option for both parents to have time off for a much shorter period of total time, than one parent (could be Mum or could be Dad) having a decent period of time to devote to their newborn (and other children they may have).
From a mother’s perspective, I would rather see a parent home with a newborn for 26 weeks than two parents home for only 13. If both parents take the 13 week option, they then presumably have to go back to work, which means baby has to go to some form of childcare (might be family but might not be). OR, one parent then makes a decision to give up work. Either way, an 13 week old baby in childcare is not the ideal. Personally, I don’t believe its ideal for a 6 month old baby either but the longer baby can be home with a parent, the better.
I don't see why this parental leave thing shouldn't be back-dated. About 40 years would suit me fine!
;)
I still fail to see why I should pay for other people's lifestyle choice to have however many children they want to have, no one pays me any benefit for the good lifestyle I choose to live.
Thats like saying why should your taxes should go towards education because you have no kids in school. Or why should your money pay for mental health costs because you don’t have a mental health condition. Or why should you contribute to infrastructure costs because you don’t have a car and you live off the grid.
If you feel exploited by your taxes contributing to the lives of other people maybe you’re living in the wrong country.