Reports Abbott’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme has been quietly shelved.
Insiders have told Fairfax exclusively that the Abbott government’s $5.5 billion paid parental leave scheme is unlikely to be passed this year. The scheme, allowing new mothers 26 weeks paid leave at salaries of up to $100,000, was one Mr Abbott’s key election promises.
Government sources have told Fairfax it is likely the legislation has been shelved due to its anticipated crushing defeat in the Senate. Backbencher dissent on the issue has also been reported as further justification for why the scheme has been likely deferred.
Labor Senator Penny Wong has responded to rumours saying, “Tony Abbott has not only broken his election promises, he has now been caught out trying to hide cuts which will hurt some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community.”
However, Liberal Minister Scott Morrison has said the scheme has not been permanently shelved.
“The budget is the priority to get those measures through, and all of our other priorities then will be taken through the parliament in an orderly fashion,” he said.
Australian couples offer to adopt abandoned baby Gammy.
Last week it was revealed an Australian couple left their baby son with the surrogate they paid to carry him because he had Down Syndrome. There was national outrage when it was revealed they brought his healthy twin sister home to Australia.
The Daily Mail is reporting that since the news broke many other Australians have offered to adopt the disabled boy.
The surrogate Pattharamon Janbua decided to keep baby Gammy, but has been struggling as his health has deteriorated further following a serious lung infection.
Janbua has told the ABC: “I chose to have him, not to hurt him. I love him, he was in my tummy for nine months, it’s like my child”.
She also said, “I won’t give my baby to anybody”.
An Australian singer has passed away due to a blood clot.
An Australian singer who was a finalist on American Idol has passed away overnight. Michael Johns, aged 35, died in his sleep due to a blood clot in his ankle.
TMZ released a statement saying, ” he went to a doctor on Thursday to check out the pain he had been feeling in his ankle … the swelling and bruising had made their way up to his leg.
“We’re told the next afternoon at his friends apartment … Johns’ body was found on the couch unresponsive. When paramedics arrived, he was already dead.”
Stars including Simon Cowell have tweeted their condolences.
Usain Bolt announces when he plans to retire.
This morning, Usain Bolt won another gold medal for Jamaica after winning the mens 4 x 100 metre relay. Following the victory he revealed his plans to retire in 2017.
“I have always said that after Rio I wanted to retire but they keep saying I should go onto 2017 (world championship in London), so I think I might just do that, so that will be my last championship.
“This training thing is not so easy. I am just happy I have done what I wanted to do in this sport,” Bolt said.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has defended Nauru as a place fit for asylum seeker children.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has responded to recently released data about the impact detention has on children’s mental health. On the ABC’s Insiders program Morrison said the 50 Tamil children sent to Nauru who were on board a boat from India should not have been exempt from offshore processing.
“Offshore processing is a universal policy and when you create exceptions to that then you create an incentive for children to get on boats,” he said.
