The Wire

As paid parental leave could mean a bonus of $50,000 – will prospective parents delay their children’s births until July 1 2015? And what will the complex combination of childcare costs mean for women who return to full time employment? Figures recently released by AMP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling indicate some take home pays could be reduced to $4.55/hr after paying for childcare. That childcare is often incomplete, ending at 3.30pm, and it appears Grandparents and other carers have to take up the slack.