The federal coalition has admitted its paid parental leave scheme is designed primarily for mothers.
The $2.7bn scheme provides 26 weeks leave paid at the mother's wage, but if fathers take the leave instead they will only be eligible for two weeks leave at their own salary and any longer would be paid at the mother's wage.
Meanwhile, Julia Gillard has promised $277m for suicide prevention if Labor is re-elected.
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The Labor leader announced the funding in a speech to the Community Economic Development Association in Brisbane.
Treasurer Wayne Swan has blamed the Liberal Party for a fresh advertising campaign criticising Labor's mining tax policy, while Gillard has promised the tax will not go up, even if the Green Party win the balance of power in the Senate.
Finally, the deputy Coalition leader Julie Bishop has again called for Labor to consider processing asylum seekers in Nauru as that country's foreign minister said there were no constitutional barriers to prevent the reopening an Australian detention centre there.
