Election policy comparison: Child care
We analyse what each major party is promising parents in the child care stakes.
Mother of all battles raging as parties vie for family vote
Jessica Irvine and Jessica Mahar John Howard embraced them as his battlers. Kevin Rudd rebadged them working families. Call them what you will, nuclear families have again emerged as the golden-haired group of this election.
Labor makes $4000 pitch to families with teenagers
Ari Sharp The two parties step up their pitch for the family vote, with Labor promising more money for families with teenagers and the Coalition offering to ease the tax burden.
Labor lines up advance on baby bonus
Ari Sharp, Cairns Parents are to be offered advances on their baby bonus and family tax benefits. Announcing the policy in Cairns yesterday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it was designed to help families cope with unexpected costs that could put a strain on household budgets.
Abbott delays start of paid parental leave scheme, eases blow on business
Phillip Coorey CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT THE Coalition will delay the start of its paid parental leave scheme by a year but will also reduce the size of the tax increase that will be applied to big business to fund the scheme.
Pledge of $12,000 for early intervention among children
Tom Arup and Mark Metherell A re-elected Gillard government would offer families of every child with a disability under the age of six $12,000 to help pay for early intervention services.
Gillard fires up over parental leave
Josh Gordon An Abbott government would be unable to begin a paid parental leave scheme on January 1 as promised, Julia Gillard has claimed.
Abbott promises extra $89m for childcare
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will funnel $89 million into childcare services if the coalition wins the next federal election.
Tanya Plibersek
Hon Tanya Plibersek MP speaks to Essential Baby about managing a high profile and demanding role alongside the demands of family life.
Little difference in schools policies
Dan Harrison The focus on the campaign trail will fall on implementation issues and subtle differences of approach.
Do you need to be selfish to be successful?
Kylie Orr So Julia’s got the top job. Being a-political, I’m not sure which words to use for that news. Congratulations? What is vastly more interesting to me, is she achieved her success, and at what cost. Can you be truly successful without trading something off?
Paid parental leave has arrived - what you need to know
Justine Davies Expecting your baby sometime in the New Year? Then here’s your at-a-glance guide to the new paid parental leave scheme.
There's something about Lindsay
Jessica Wright JONATHAN and Michelle Mascorella, parents of two young children, Lucia, 4, and Kieran, 1, are at the epicentre of the election campaign.
Ready reckoner: where the parties stand on key policies
Julia Gillard says the looming election will be a choice between moving forward or returning to a dark past. Tony Abbott says it will give voters a chance to get rid of a bad government full of flawed characters.
Mums discuss: the environment
How important is the issue of climate change to you?
Video: Just who is Julia Gillard?
Find out first female Prime Minister is chosen by the Labor party, find out more about who she is and how she rose to power.
Tony Abbott: a man of contradictions
Tony Abbott's transformation from the political wastelands to a potential prime minister has amazed even close supporters.
