Attempts to extend paid parental leave further than proposed by the Government were voted down this evening as MPs debated Budget related legislation.
The paid parental leave changes proposed by the Government as part of the Budget include; increasing the length of paid parental leave to 18 weeks, up from the current 14 weeks. This will happen in two steps – to 16 weeks on 1 April 2015 and then to 18 weeks on 1 April 2016
During the evening Opposition amendments to get paid parental leave extended further to 26 weeks by 2016 was voted down by 61 to 58 with National, ACT and United Future opposed.
The House rose at 10pm debating part two of the Budget Measures (Financial Support for Newborn Children) Bill during the committee stage
Earlier the bill completed its first reading on a voice vote.
The House will resume at 9am tomorrow to pass the parental leave bill and the Budget Measures (Miscellaneous Fiscal Matters) Bill through all stages.
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