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Xenophon in talks on paid parental leave

The Nick Xenophon Team is sticking to its commitment to keep paid parental leave provisions intact, unless they can be made fairer and more equitable.

File image of Nick Xenophon
File image of Nick Xenophon Source: AAP

Senate powerbroker Nick Xenophon has mocked the coalition over its lack of consistency on paid parental leave, accusing it of going from Tony Abbott's Rolls Royce version to a noisy, oily, two-cylinder East GermanTrabant.

Senator Xenophon will meet Social Services Minister Christian Porter this week to discuss the government's plan to stop new mums accessing the taxpayer-funded minimum wage scheme if their employer is running its own leave plan.

He told Sky News on Monday his team was still committed to keeping the scheme intact, but they would reconsider if it could be made fairer - especially for women on average weekly earnings or less.

Treasurer Scott Morrison will also be meeting with Senator Xenophon this week to discuss $6 billion in welfare savings of which the PPL plan is part.

"It is important that we make these savings," Mr Morrison told Sydney's 2GB radio.

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"If we don't make these savings, future generations will be paying more taxes for the benefits that people are currently receiving today."


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Source: AAP



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