Parental scheme promise

TONY Abbott has vowed to deliver a paid parental leave scheme by 2015 come hell or high water despite declaring a ‘‘budget emergency.’’

Confessing the big lesson he had learnt after 100 days as Prime Minister was voters would not stand for politicians who broke commitments, Mr Abbott said the timeline was non-negotiable.

But he conceded Senate negotiations could knock down the cap on how much women could secure under the scheme from $75,000 to $50,000. That would see women earning more than $100,000 not secure a full sixmonth replacement wage.

The Coalition says this would save little money because only a small percentage of women earn over $100,000, but it may help contain the cost of the $5 billiona-year scheme over time.

The Prime Minister offered a guarantee to families that a situation would not arise where Treasurer Joe Hockey or others told him it must be delayed.

‘‘Absolutely. If there is one lesson that we have learnt over the last few months it is that we must deliver on our commitments. And I just say, it was instructive,’’ Mr Abbott said.

‘‘ The Greens essentially accept our scheme. Their only quibble is they think it should be $50,000 rather than $75,000.

‘‘I am going to ask them to respect the mandate . . . ’’

Mr Abbott said voters should understand that the May budget would be tough after the problems outlined in the Mid Year Fiscal Economic Outlook update.

‘‘MYEFO was letting the public know, as we should, the size and scale of the problem,’’ he said.

‘‘The budget and the announcements we will make in the run-up to the budget, will be letting the public know how the whole thing is going to be repaired. So, MYEFO is the problem and the budget is the solution.’’

As the Government eyes savings in the childcare portfolio, Mr Abbott also said he was not fundamentally opposed to some stay at home mums claiming the childcare rebate for older children when on maternity leave.

‘‘ Well, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of respite care for people. We accept that respite care is quite important in lots of different contexts,’’ he said.

‘‘The important thing with childcare is to ensure it genuinely serves the need of a 24-7 economy and genuinely serves, is responsive to the needs of modern families.’’

The Prime Minister admitted changes may have to be made to the National Disability Insurance Scheme to make it sustainable.

‘‘Again, we won’t do anything that’s inconsistent with the mandate,’’ he said.

‘‘We are going to have a strong and effective NDIS.

‘‘But our job is to ensure that it’s sustainable.’’