The Wire

The heat is on the Coalition to defend its paid parental leave policy, after it was revealed taxpayer’s will have to pay twice, as the scheme is exempt from franking credits on dividends to shareholders. With every superannuant affected, and business unimpressed, the Labor Party have been pushing the Coalition to front up about just how the $5.5 billion/year scheme will be paid for.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott won’t allow the Productivity Commission to review the figures. He is defending the scheme, describing it as justice for women and families, but political commentator Margo Kingston says not only is the Coalition Paid Parental Leave scheme inequitable, it’s also a mistake.