Trailing Labor by a massive 10 points in the polls, Scott Morrison is splashing taxpayer cash in a desperate bid to buy votes less than two months before polling day in May.
Changes to paid parental leave and a $1.3 billion down-payment on the new plan to end violence against women headline the Coalition’s pitch to female voters.
Dad and Partner Pay will now be combined with Parental Leave Pay to create a single scheme with parents to have access up to 20 weeks of leave to divide up between them as they choose.
With inflation tipped to climb above four per cent for the first time in 14 years economist Chris Richardson said Budget handouts would make an interest rate rise more likely in 2022.