i'm not sure of the changes in the budget when it was handed down in May, but prior to that, there was no "right" to parental leave (i believe the budget addresses this, but not til next year). My understanding is that the birth of a child allows one parent or the other to be off work (payment doest' come into it) for up to 12 months - but only one at a time. so if mum goes back at 10 months, dad can take the other 2 as unpaid leave, and would have a right to fight that if their boss said no. but i honestly don't know for sure.


a quick google shows the paternity leave entitlement doesn't start until jan 2013