Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Bendigo for her question. She is a fantastic, active, hardworking local member. She knows that, last year in her community, about 1,600 parents benefited from paid parental leave. This morning, the Prime Minister, the member for Canberra and I met gorgeous little babies Van and Lucas and their parents, and we were talking to them about what a difference paid parental leave has made for them. And of course we're delighted that today that difference is even more significant because today from the today, 1 July, people will get the full six months of paid parental leave. They'll get more money at that higher rate—over $1,000 a week. They'll get their paid super as well, of course. They get more flexibility, more time off mums and dads together if they wish. And of course more people are eligible as the thresholds increase.

But it's not just about the huge increase in paid parental leave. That's not the only way we're helping families. We're increasing family tax benefit from today as well. The three hours of free power comes in today. There are tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, increases to the minimum wage for three million workers and stronger Medicare. And, of course, we're making it easier for people to get a home of their own. None of that is safe if those opposite, the three right-wing parties, ever have the opportunity to team up. The Liberals have called mums on paid parental leave rorters and double-dippers. The member for Goldstein—he's here today—says: 'It's not my choice that women have children. It's genetic.' Senator Hanson in 2017 said women only get themselves pregnant for the money, and this year in April she said: 'Listen, love. You have the equipment. That's what you're here for.'

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