Parental leave scheme to go ahead

Australia's first national paid parental leave scheme has been officially passed by
federal parliament.
Mums and dads around the country will now enjoy an 18-week parental leave scheme
paid at the federal minimum wage from January next year.
The opposition tried to amend draft laws setting up the scheme so that businesses
didn't have to administer payments.
But in the end, Liberal senator Mitch Fifield said while the scheme was flawed, the
coalition wasn't prepared to force the issue and hold its progress up any further.
"The opposition has been very reasonable, we haven't sought to obstruct, we haven't
sought to delay, we haven't sought to imperil this legislation," he told parliament
on Thursday.
Labor frontbench senator Ursula Stephens said it was a very important day for
mothers, fathers and Australia, moments before the draft laws were officially
passed.
The Paid Parental Leave Bill 2010 and a related bill now await royal assent.