Tradie fathers forced to choose between pay and newborn bonding
Almost one-third of Australian fathers take no parental leave because government payments are too low for tradesmen to survive on.
Construction worker Nathan Keni burnt through sick and annual leave within weeks of his first child. The government payment was about $500 a week, not enough for a family with a mortgage.
A Movember report shows almost one-third of fathers take no parental leave; half rely on employer schemes, more common in offices than trades. Carpenter Matt Hilder drained long-service leave for two weeks with his newborn, saying the scheme suits corporate employees, not tradesmen.
- $500 per week
- Government payment
- one-third of Australian fathers
- Fathers taking no leave
- three weeks at own expense
- Nathan Keni's leaves per child
Why it mattersTradie fathers miss critical early bonding time because parental leave payments do not cover living costs; this widens opportunity gaps between office and manual workers.
AustraliaAustralian parents in trades and small businesses cannot afford to use government parental leave, forcing young families to choose between financial stability and early childcare.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
