Aussie dads lead world in parenting

Sydney, March 22 : Australian dads are better when compared to those in Italy, France or Denmark, says a study.

Lyn Craig, a senior research fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW, found fathers Down Under worked harder than Danish, French or Italian ones and the same as Americans in terms of their long hours in paid work combined with their domestic labours.

For example, Australian fathers spend 10 to 11 hours a day in paid and domestic work as compared to eight hours for Danish men, according to researchers.

''''They do less than Australian women but they compare favourably to men in some other countries,'''' the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Dr Craig as saying.

She added: ''''Intensive parenting seems to be a phenomenon of Anglo countries. ''Australian men and women -but especially women - spend more time with their children than do parents in the other countries, with only the US coming close.''''