Some interesting points Babette. And breastfeeding for at lest six months does improve the immune response!
And, if men had to do it, the person writing the letter could easily be the PM, pleading for your understanding.
And complex rationalists just complicate the hell out of everything, complexity which currently costs the average bottom line an additional 7%.
Hell there are some business with profit margins lower than that.
I mean, why would anybody become a farmer, when the returns in just too many cases, are lower than bank interest, and then still taxed?
I can remember a time, when women could chose whether to work or not!
Now, with house prices so far above the overseas average, they have little other choice but to work!
And oh for the day when power prices just kept pace with inflation, not way out there creating it!
In light of all that, I guess you must be one of the more fortunate ones, who can choose to stay at home and raise kids, the most important job on the planet!
Rhrosty.

The author says....FTB part B was meant to rectify the unfairness created when a dual income household receives two tax-free thresholds.

Yes, but the single income family member who works, claims for the dependent spouse, do they not!

As for breast feeding V working, I think too many people forget that having chidden is a 'personal choice' and ome that is all too often made with the assumption that someone else will always be there to pay the bills.

Well, as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever and this may well be one such case.

Finally, with regards to your letters, I hope in the interest of fairness, you also sent a letter to Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard and Mr Swan, seeking an explanation as to how they managed to spend so much, yet achieve so little, which lead to the waste that has brough about the suspected spending cuts that are the basis of your article.

Perhaps we have reached the point where people have to stop expecting the world to provide support for them and their personal choices. Myself and my wife brought our two kids up without support, so it can be done.

BTW, I am not a supporter of paid parental leave.

Quite true, Babette, for those who were already encouraged under former governments to have babies.

But enough is enough: further procreation in this overcrowded planet is wrong and must not be supported in any way until human population reduces by two digits at least.

While making children should not be criminalised, all expenses must be shouldered by the parents, including education, health and being off-work. Sure, a fair 9-month notice should be given and those already pregnant should enjoy the existing benefits, then all this should end.

'But enough is enough: further procreation in this overcrowded planet is wrong '
Yuyutsu

I would of thought you would fall for such idiotic dogma. Plenty of space, plenty of resources however not very evenly spread. Look at the obesity problems we have where many eat for 3.

Babette

unfortunately if a baby is born they are very fortunate in this self centred secular society which slaughters many. The feminist are happy for babies to come last as long as they remain in first. It is a shame that a 'conservative ' Government is discouraging mothers from being mothers. Most of the high paid feminist Government workers should be able to avoid nannies. Thankfully their are still woman take mothering seriously.

I am definitely NOT a supporter of paid parental leave.
Good on you Yuyutsu.
With 7 billion and rapidly increasing there certainly are enough, too many even, people on this planet.
When are we going to realise that, as a species of animals, we must learn to share this, our only home, with ALL other animal species and cease destroying it for our own personal gratification.
If you can`t feed them don`t breed them and do not expect others to pay for them. The fun was yours, the pain is too.
For Rhrosty the most important task we, as a species of animals, have is to try and save this place for future generations of ALL species.
Producing more little consumers of the Earth`s valuable and finite resources is not the way to do it.

ateday. Australia is hardly overcrowded!
We could even grow food in the Sahara, using just sea water.
And feed everyone on the planet, for less than a third of our military budgets!
Yes sure, we as a species have overpopulated the planet, but Aussies are not the ones doing it!
Why, our birth rate at 1.75, is not even replacing current population levels!
So save your spurious sermons for the ones actually doing all the breeding, rather than preaching to the converted.
Which by the way, has too date, only ever been moderated by educating women, and indeed, giving them, as half the world's population, the right to say no!
Rhrosty.