Paid parental leave scheme

The Government's paid parental leave (GPPL) scheme was passed through parliament on Thursday, 17 June 2010 and will apply to births or adoptions on or after 1 January 2011.

Under the scheme eligible working parents will be entitled to 18 weeks government funded leave. This will be paid at the Federal minimum wage which is currently $569 per week.

To be eligible for the GPPL a person must be the primary care giver to the new born child or adopted child under 16 and must satisfy:

1. The work test: meaning they must have worked continuously for at least 10 of the previous 13 months and for at least 330 hours (approximately 1 day per week) during that period
2. The income test: their income must be less than $150,000 per annum

When an eligible working parent has 12 months’ continuous service the employer becomes the paymaster for the GPPL. This 12 months requirement is the same service requirement for an employee to be eligible for unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards.

Unpaid parental may be taken at the same time as the GPPL and the amount of GPPL taken is deducted from the employee’s unpaid parental leave entitlement.

For further information call the Workplace Advice Unit on 13 29 59.

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