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'It's bizarre': Calls for 'discriminatory' law which penalises female earners and stay-at-home dads to be re-examined

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  When Eleanor Parsons fell pregnant with her first child last year, she and her husband Ben were busy making plans to share the care of their daughter. "We wanted equality — I was going to have the first three months off work, and then Ben would take the next three months to be her primary carer," Ms Parsons said. The  Queensland  couple's plans were thrown a curveball, however, when Ms Parsons discovered an "infuriating" inequality which lies at the heart of the Federal Government's paid parental leave scheme. Only the birth mother's income is means tested to assess for eligibility. Currently, if a mother earns more than $150,000 a year, neither she nor her partner is eligible for Parental Leave Pay – which amounts to 18 weeks' pay at minimum wage, or around $13,900 before tax. The birth father, meanwhile, could take home a salary of millions and the mother will still qualify for Parental Leave Pay, provided her income is below the $150,000 cap. Ha