diff --git a/ext/libvisual/visual.c b/ext/libvisual/visual.c
index 8589d2337a..c94e901015 100644
--- a/ext/libvisual/visual.c
+++ b/ext/libvisual/visual.c
@@ -129,9 +129,12 @@ static void gst_visual_finalize (GObject * object);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_visual_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_visual_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
-static gboolean gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_visual_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_visual_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_visual_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static gboolean gst_visual_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
@@ -504,12 +507,12 @@ no_format:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstVisual *visual;
   gboolean res;
 
-  visual = GST_VISUAL (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  visual = GST_VISUAL (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
@@ -541,7 +544,7 @@ gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
     }
     default:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
@@ -549,12 +552,12 @@ gst_visual_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_visual_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_visual_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstVisual *visual;
   gboolean res;
 
-  visual = GST_VISUAL (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  visual = GST_VISUAL (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_QOS:
@@ -586,7 +589,7 @@ gst_visual_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       res = TRUE;
       break;
     default:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
@@ -676,11 +679,11 @@ ensure_negotiated (GstVisual * visual)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_visual_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_visual_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstBuffer *outbuf = NULL;
   guint i;
-  GstVisual *visual = GST_VISUAL (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  GstVisual *visual = GST_VISUAL (parent);
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
   guint avail;
   gint bpf, rate, channels;
@@ -897,8 +900,8 @@ gst_visual_change_state (GstElement * element, GstStateChange transition)
   switch (transition) {
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_NULL_TO_READY:
       visual->actor =
-          visual_actor_new (GST_VISUAL_GET_CLASS (visual)->plugin->
-          info->plugname);
+          visual_actor_new (GST_VISUAL_GET_CLASS (visual)->plugin->info->
+          plugname);
       visual->video = visual_video_new ();
       visual->audio = visual_audio_new ();
       /* can't have a play without actors */
diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstoggaviparse.c b/ext/ogg/gstoggaviparse.c
index 50d4eb1c53..0d635d212c 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstoggaviparse.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstoggaviparse.c
@@ -124,8 +124,10 @@ GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("sink",
 static void gst_ogg_avi_parse_finalize (GObject * object);
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_ogg_avi_parse_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
-static gboolean gst_ogg_avi_parse_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_avi_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean gst_ogg_avi_parse_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_avi_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static gboolean gst_ogg_avi_parse_setcaps (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * caps);
 
 static void
@@ -289,12 +291,12 @@ buffer_too_small:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ogg_avi_parse_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogg_avi_parse_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstOggAviParse *ogg;
   gboolean ret;
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_AVI_PARSE (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_AVI_PARSE (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_CAPS:
@@ -347,7 +349,7 @@ gst_ogg_avi_parse_push_packet (GstOggAviParse * ogg, ogg_packet * packet)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_ogg_avi_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_ogg_avi_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstFlowReturn result = GST_FLOW_OK;
   GstOggAviParse *ogg;
@@ -355,7 +357,7 @@ gst_ogg_avi_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   gchar *oggbuf;
   gint ret = -1;
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_AVI_PARSE (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_AVI_PARSE (parent);
 
   size = gst_buffer_get_size (buffer);
 
diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstoggdemux.c b/ext/ogg/gstoggdemux.c
index f737047d32..986e4882c8 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstoggdemux.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstoggdemux.c
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ static void gst_ogg_pad_finalize (GObject * object);
 
 static gboolean gst_ogg_pad_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
-static gboolean gst_ogg_pad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_ogg_pad_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static GstOggPad *gst_ogg_chain_get_stream (GstOggChain * chain,
     guint32 serialno);
 
@@ -384,12 +385,12 @@ error:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ogg_pad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogg_pad_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res;
   GstOggDemux *ogg;
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:
@@ -398,10 +399,9 @@ gst_ogg_pad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       gst_event_unref (event);
       break;
     default:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
-  gst_object_unref (ogg);
 
   return res;
 }
@@ -1776,9 +1776,11 @@ static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_demux_read_chain (GstOggDemux * ogg,
 static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_demux_read_end_chain (GstOggDemux * ogg,
     GstOggChain * chain);
 
-static gboolean gst_ogg_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_ogg_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static void gst_ogg_demux_loop (GstOggPad * pad);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static gboolean gst_ogg_demux_sink_activate (GstPad * sinkpad);
 static gboolean gst_ogg_demux_sink_activate_pull (GstPad * sinkpad,
     gboolean active);
@@ -1879,12 +1881,12 @@ gst_ogg_demux_reset_streams (GstOggDemux * ogg)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ogg_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogg_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res;
   GstOggDemux *ogg;
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
@@ -1954,7 +1956,6 @@ gst_ogg_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       res = gst_ogg_demux_send_event (ogg, event);
       break;
   }
-  gst_object_unref (ogg);
 
   return res;
 }
@@ -3910,13 +3911,13 @@ unknown_chain:
  * the serialno, submit pages and packets to the oggpads
  */
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_ogg_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_ogg_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstOggDemux *ogg;
   gint ret = 0;
   GstFlowReturn result = GST_FLOW_OK;
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (ogg, "enter");
   result = gst_ogg_demux_submit_buffer (ogg, buffer);
@@ -4060,7 +4061,7 @@ gst_ogg_demux_loop_forward (GstOggDemux * ogg)
     ogg->newsegment = NULL;
   }
 
-  ret = gst_ogg_demux_chain (ogg->sinkpad, buffer);
+  ret = gst_ogg_demux_chain (ogg->sinkpad, GST_OBJECT_CAST (ogg), buffer);
   if (ret != GST_FLOW_OK) {
     GST_LOG_OBJECT (ogg, "Failed demux_chain");
     goto done;
diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c b/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
index 95d80818ea..283505c6fd 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ static void gst_ogg_mux_finalize (GObject * object);
 
 static GstFlowReturn
 gst_ogg_mux_collected (GstCollectPads2 * pads, GstOggMux * ogg_mux);
-static gboolean gst_ogg_mux_handle_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_ogg_mux_handle_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static GstPad *gst_ogg_mux_request_new_pad (GstElement * element,
     GstPadTemplate * templ, const gchar * name, const GstCaps * caps);
 static void gst_ogg_mux_release_pad (GstElement * element, GstPad * pad);
@@ -303,9 +304,9 @@ gst_ogg_mux_sinkconnect (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ogg_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogg_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstOggMux *ogg_mux = GST_OGG_MUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstOggMux *ogg_mux = GST_OGG_MUX (parent);
   GstOggPadData *ogg_pad = (GstOggPadData *) gst_pad_get_element_private (pad);
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
 
@@ -350,9 +351,8 @@ gst_ogg_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
   /* now GstCollectPads can take care of the rest, e.g. EOS */
   if (event != NULL)
-    ret = ogg_pad->collect_event (pad, event);
+    ret = ogg_pad->collect_event (pad, parent, event);
 
-  gst_object_unref (ogg_mux);
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -512,7 +512,8 @@ gst_ogg_mux_release_pad (GstElement * element, GstPad * pad)
 
 /* handle events */
 static gboolean
-gst_ogg_mux_handle_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogg_mux_handle_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstEventType type;
 
@@ -526,7 +527,7 @@ gst_ogg_mux_handle_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  return gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+  return gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
 }
 
 static GstBuffer *
diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstoggparse.c b/ext/ogg/gstoggparse.c
index bbc5caeab2..eb8e0b9882 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstoggparse.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstoggparse.c
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("sink",
 static void gst_ogg_parse_dispose (GObject * object);
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_ogg_parse_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_ogg_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 
 static void
 gst_ogg_parse_base_init (gpointer g_class)
@@ -383,7 +384,7 @@ gst_ogg_parse_buffer_from_page (ogg_page * page,
  * pages to output pad.
  */
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_ogg_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_ogg_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstOggParse *ogg;
   GstFlowReturn result = GST_FLOW_OK;
@@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ gst_ogg_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   GstBuffer *pagebuffer;
   GstClockTime buffertimestamp = GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buffer);
 
-  ogg = GST_OGG_PARSE (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  ogg = GST_OGG_PARSE (parent);
 
   GST_LOG_OBJECT (ogg,
       "Chain function received buffer of size %" G_GSIZE_FORMAT,
diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstogmparse.c b/ext/ogg/gstogmparse.c
index 8f9869870c..6790937f71 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstogmparse.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstogmparse.c
@@ -151,13 +151,15 @@ static void gst_ogm_video_parse_init (GstOgmParse * ogm);
 static void gst_ogm_audio_parse_init (GstOgmParse * ogm);
 static void gst_ogm_text_parse_init (GstOgmParse * ogm);
 
-static gboolean gst_ogm_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_ogm_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_ogm_parse_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean gst_ogm_parse_sink_convert (GstPad * pad, GstFormat src_format,
     gint64 src_value, GstFormat * dest_format, gint64 * dest_value);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_ogm_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_ogm_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_ogm_parse_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
@@ -837,10 +839,10 @@ buffer_too_small:
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_ogm_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_ogm_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
-  GstOgmParse *ogm = GST_OGM_PARSE (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  GstOgmParse *ogm = GST_OGM_PARSE (parent);
   guint8 *data;
   gsize size;
 
@@ -885,9 +887,9 @@ buffer_too_small:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ogm_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ogm_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstOgmParse *ogm = GST_OGM_PARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstOgmParse *ogm = GST_OGM_PARSE (parent);
   gboolean res;
 
   GST_LOG_OBJECT (ogm, "processing %s event", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -899,10 +901,9 @@ gst_ogm_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
     res = TRUE;
   } else {
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (ogm);
-    res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+    res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (ogm);
   return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c b/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
index ccabc34899..df036aee27 100644
--- a/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
+++ b/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
@@ -313,21 +313,21 @@ static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_setcaps (GstBaseTextOverlay * overlay,
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_setcaps_txt (GstBaseTextOverlay * overlay,
     GstCaps * caps);
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_src_event (GstPad * pad,
-    GstEvent * event);
+    GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_src_query (GstPad * pad,
     GstObject * parent, GstQuery * query);
 
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad,
-    GstEvent * event);
+    GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_video_query (GstPad * pad,
     GstObject * parent, GstQuery * query);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_base_text_overlay_video_chain (GstPad * pad,
-    GstBuffer * buffer);
+    GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer);
 
 static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_text_event (GstPad * pad,
-    GstEvent * event);
+    GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_base_text_overlay_text_chain (GstPad * pad,
-    GstBuffer * buffer);
+    GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstPadLinkReturn gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_link (GstPad * pad,
     GstPad * peer);
 static void gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad);
@@ -1022,16 +1022,13 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_base_text_overlay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_base_text_overlay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay = NULL;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!overlay)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:{
@@ -1081,7 +1078,6 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   }
 
 beach:
-  gst_object_unref (overlay);
 
   return ret;
 }
@@ -2150,16 +2146,13 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_base_text_overlay_text_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_base_text_overlay_text_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay = NULL;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!overlay)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   GST_LOG_OBJECT (pad, "received event %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
 
@@ -2234,26 +2227,21 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_text_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       ret = TRUE;
       break;
     default:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (overlay);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay = NULL;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!overlay)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "received event %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
 
@@ -2285,7 +2273,7 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
             ("received non-TIME newsegment event on video input"));
       }
 
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     case GST_EVENT_EOS:
@@ -2293,7 +2281,7 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       GST_INFO_OBJECT (overlay, "video EOS");
       overlay->video_eos = TRUE;
       GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (overlay);
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
       GST_OBJECT_LOCK (overlay);
@@ -2301,7 +2289,7 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       overlay->video_flushing = TRUE;
       GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY_BROADCAST (overlay);
       GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (overlay);
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
       GST_OBJECT_LOCK (overlay);
@@ -2310,15 +2298,13 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_video_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       overlay->video_eos = FALSE;
       gst_segment_init (&overlay->segment, GST_FORMAT_TIME);
       GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (overlay);
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     default:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (overlay);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -2369,14 +2355,15 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_pop_text (GstBaseTextOverlay * overlay)
    If the buffer is in our segment we keep it internally except if another one
    is already waiting here, in that case we wait that it gets kicked out */
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_base_text_overlay_text_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_base_text_overlay_text_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay = NULL;
   gboolean in_seg = FALSE;
   guint64 clip_start = 0, clip_stop = 0;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (overlay);
 
@@ -2452,7 +2439,8 @@ beach:
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_base_text_overlay_video_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_base_text_overlay_video_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstBaseTextOverlayClass *klass;
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay;
@@ -2461,7 +2449,7 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_video_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   guint64 start, stop, clip_start = 0, clip_stop = 0;
   gchar *text = NULL;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
   klass = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY_GET_CLASS (overlay);
 
   if (!GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP_IS_VALID (buffer))
diff --git a/ext/pango/gsttextrender.c b/ext/pango/gsttextrender.c
index b4fb54d076..a2b0b7c17b 100644
--- a/ext/pango/gsttextrender.c
+++ b/ext/pango/gsttextrender.c
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ gst_text_renderer_image_to_argb (GstTextRender * render, guchar * pixbuf,
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_text_render_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * inbuf)
+gst_text_render_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * inbuf)
 {
   GstTextRender *render;
   GstFlowReturn ret;
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ gst_text_render_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * inbuf)
   gint n;
   gint xpos, ypos;
 
-  render = GST_TEXT_RENDER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  render = GST_TEXT_RENDER (parent);
 
   data = gst_buffer_map (inbuf, &size, NULL, GST_MAP_READ);
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ done:
   if (caps)
     gst_caps_unref (caps);
   gst_buffer_unref (inbuf);
-  gst_object_unref (render);
+
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
index a8f9a98b7b..dbdc9925a3 100644
--- a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
+++ b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
@@ -92,11 +92,14 @@ static void theora_dec_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
     const GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
 
 static gboolean theora_dec_setcaps (GstTheoraDec * dec, GstCaps * caps);
-static gboolean theora_dec_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static GstFlowReturn theora_dec_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean theora_dec_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn theora_dec_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstStateChangeReturn theora_dec_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
-static gboolean theora_dec_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean theora_dec_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean theora_dec_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean theora_dec_src_convert (GstPad * pad, GstFormat src_format,
@@ -507,12 +510,12 @@ error:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-theora_dec_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+theora_dec_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res = TRUE;
   GstTheoraDec *dec;
 
-  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:
@@ -579,7 +582,6 @@ theora_dec_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (dec);
 
   return res;
 
@@ -592,12 +594,12 @@ convert_error:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-theora_dec_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+theora_dec_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
   GstTheoraDec *dec;
 
-  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (parent);
 
   GST_LOG_OBJECT (dec, "handling event");
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
@@ -658,11 +660,10 @@ theora_dec_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
     }
     default:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (dec);
 
   return ret;
 
@@ -723,7 +724,7 @@ theora_dec_setcaps (GstTheoraDec * dec, GstCaps * caps)
           GST_BUFFER_FLAG_SET (buf, GST_BUFFER_FLAG_DISCONT);
 
         /* now feed it to the decoder we can ignore the error */
-        theora_dec_chain (dec->sinkpad, buf);
+        theora_dec_chain (dec->sinkpad, GST_OBJECT_CAST (dec), buf);
 
         /* skip the data */
         left -= psize;
@@ -1567,13 +1568,13 @@ theora_dec_chain_forward (GstTheoraDec * dec, gboolean discont,
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-theora_dec_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+theora_dec_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstTheoraDec *dec;
   GstFlowReturn res;
   gboolean discont;
 
-  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  dec = GST_THEORA_DEC (parent);
 
   /* peel of DISCONT flag */
   discont = GST_BUFFER_IS_DISCONT (buf);
@@ -1591,8 +1592,6 @@ theora_dec_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
   else
     res = theora_dec_chain_reverse (dec, discont, buf);
 
-  gst_object_unref (dec);
-
   return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/theora/gsttheoraenc.c b/ext/theora/gsttheoraenc.c
index 50312d1f0c..2797c02bba 100644
--- a/ext/theora/gsttheoraenc.c
+++ b/ext/theora/gsttheoraenc.c
@@ -248,9 +248,12 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_CODE (GstTheoraEnc, gst_theora_enc,
 
 static GstCaps *theora_enc_src_caps;
 
-static gboolean theora_enc_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean theora_enc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static GstFlowReturn theora_enc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean theora_enc_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean theora_enc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn theora_enc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstStateChangeReturn theora_enc_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
 static gboolean theora_enc_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
@@ -894,13 +897,13 @@ theora_enc_force_keyframe (GstTheoraEnc * enc)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-theora_enc_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+theora_enc_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstTheoraEnc *enc;
   ogg_packet op;
   gboolean res;
 
-  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_CAPS:
@@ -962,12 +965,12 @@ theora_enc_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-theora_enc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+theora_enc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstTheoraEnc *enc;
   gboolean res = TRUE;
 
-  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_CUSTOM_UPSTREAM:
@@ -1232,7 +1235,7 @@ data_push:
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-theora_enc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+theora_enc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstTheoraEnc *enc;
   ogg_packet op;
@@ -1240,7 +1243,7 @@ theora_enc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   GstFlowReturn ret;
   gboolean force_keyframe;
 
-  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  enc = GST_THEORA_ENC (parent);
 
   /* we keep track of two timelines.
    * - The timestamps from the incoming buffers, which we copy to the outgoing
diff --git a/ext/theora/gsttheoraparse.c b/ext/theora/gsttheoraparse.c
index e8f7abb94b..3acd95237d 100644
--- a/ext/theora/gsttheoraparse.c
+++ b/ext/theora/gsttheoraparse.c
@@ -94,10 +94,12 @@ static void theora_parse_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
 static void theora_parse_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
     const GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
 
-static GstFlowReturn theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstStateChangeReturn theora_parse_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
-static gboolean theora_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean theora_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean theora_parse_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 
@@ -345,7 +347,7 @@ theora_parse_drain_event_queue (GstTheoraParse * parse)
     GstEvent *event;
 
     event = GST_EVENT_CAST (g_queue_pop_head (parse->event_queue));
-    gst_pad_event_default (parse->sinkpad, event);
+    gst_pad_event_default (parse->sinkpad, GST_OBJECT_CAST (parse), event);
   }
 }
 
@@ -639,7 +641,7 @@ theora_parse_queue_buffer (GstTheoraParse * parse, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstFlowReturn ret;
   GstTheoraParse *parse;
@@ -647,7 +649,7 @@ theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   gsize size;
   gboolean have_header;
 
-  parse = GST_THEORA_PARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  parse = GST_THEORA_PARSE (parent);
 
   have_header = FALSE;
 
@@ -678,8 +680,6 @@ theora_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
     ret = theora_parse_queue_buffer (parse, buffer);
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (parse);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -691,34 +691,32 @@ theora_parse_queue_event (GstTheoraParse * parse, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-theora_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+theora_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret;
   GstTheoraParse *parse;
 
-  parse = GST_THEORA_PARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  parse = GST_THEORA_PARSE (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
       theora_parse_clear_queue (parse);
       parse->prev_keyframe = -1;
       parse->prev_frame = -1;
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_EOS:
       theora_parse_drain_queue_prematurely (parse);
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     default:
       if (parse->send_streamheader && GST_EVENT_IS_SERIALIZED (event))
         ret = theora_parse_queue_event (parse, event);
       else
-        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (parse);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/vorbis/gstvorbisparse.c b/ext/vorbis/gstvorbisparse.c
index 3a22d069dd..7de09a9936 100644
--- a/ext/vorbis/gstvorbisparse.c
+++ b/ext/vorbis/gstvorbisparse.c
@@ -75,10 +75,12 @@ GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("src",
 #define gst_vorbis_parse_parent_class parent_class
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstVorbisParse, gst_vorbis_parse, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT);
 
-static GstFlowReturn vorbis_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn vorbis_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstStateChangeReturn vorbis_parse_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
-static gboolean vorbis_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean vorbis_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean vorbis_parse_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean vorbis_parse_convert (GstPad * pad, GstFormat src_format,
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ vorbis_parse_drain_event_queue (GstVorbisParse * parse)
     GstEvent *event;
 
     event = GST_EVENT_CAST (g_queue_pop_head (parse->event_queue));
-    gst_pad_event_default (parse->sinkpad, event);
+    gst_pad_event_default (parse->sinkpad, GST_OBJECT_CAST (parse), event);
   }
 }
 
@@ -416,12 +418,12 @@ vorbis_parse_parse_packet (GstVorbisParse * parse, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-vorbis_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+vorbis_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstVorbisParseClass *klass;
   GstVorbisParse *parse;
 
-  parse = GST_VORBIS_PARSE (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  parse = GST_VORBIS_PARSE (parent);
   klass = GST_VORBIS_PARSE_CLASS (G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (parse));
 
   g_assert (klass->parse_packet != NULL);
@@ -440,34 +442,32 @@ vorbis_parse_queue_event (GstVorbisParse * parse, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-vorbis_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+vorbis_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean ret;
   GstVorbisParse *parse;
 
-  parse = GST_VORBIS_PARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  parse = GST_VORBIS_PARSE (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
       vorbis_parse_clear_queue (parse);
       parse->prev_granulepos = -1;
       parse->prev_blocksize = -1;
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_EOS:
       vorbis_parse_drain_queue_prematurely (parse);
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     default:
       if (!parse->streamheader_sent && GST_EVENT_IS_SERIALIZED (event))
         ret = vorbis_parse_queue_event (parse, event);
       else
-        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (parse);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudiodecoder.c b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudiodecoder.c
index a1303fc45c..c9a1ab6cd0 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudiodecoder.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudiodecoder.c
@@ -276,12 +276,15 @@ static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_decoder_chain_reverse (GstAudioDecoder *
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_audio_decoder_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
-static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_sink_setcaps (GstAudioDecoder * dec,
     GstCaps * caps);
 gboolean gst_audio_decoder_src_setcaps (GstAudioDecoder * dec, GstCaps * caps);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_decoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_decoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
 static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean gst_audio_decoder_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
@@ -1296,12 +1299,12 @@ gst_audio_decoder_chain_reverse (GstAudioDecoder * dec, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_audio_decoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_audio_decoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstAudioDecoder *dec;
   GstFlowReturn ret;
 
-  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (parent);
 
   GST_LOG_OBJECT (dec,
       "received buffer of size %d with ts %" GST_TIME_FORMAT
@@ -1479,14 +1482,15 @@ gst_audio_decoder_sink_eventfunc (GstAudioDecoder * dec, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstAudioDecoder *dec;
   GstAudioDecoderClass *klass;
   gboolean handled = FALSE;
   gboolean ret = TRUE;
 
-  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (parent);
   klass = GST_AUDIO_DECODER_GET_CLASS (dec);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (dec, "received event %d, %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE (event),
@@ -1510,7 +1514,7 @@ gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
     if (!GST_EVENT_IS_SERIALIZED (event)
         || GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_EOS
         || GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP) {
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
     } else {
       GST_AUDIO_DECODER_STREAM_LOCK (dec);
       dec->priv->pending_events =
@@ -1522,7 +1526,6 @@ gst_audio_decoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (dec, "event handled");
 
-  gst_object_unref (dec);
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1585,16 +1588,12 @@ gst_audio_decoder_do_seek (GstAudioDecoder * dec, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_audio_decoder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_audio_decoder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstAudioDecoder *dec;
   gboolean res = FALSE;
 
-  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (dec == NULL)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
+  dec = GST_AUDIO_DECODER (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (dec, "received event %d, %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE (event),
       GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -1648,8 +1647,6 @@ gst_audio_decoder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (dec);
-
   return res;
 
   /* ERRORS */
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudioencoder.c b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudioencoder.c
index 6012f26c7a..485087228f 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudioencoder.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstaudioencoder.c
@@ -299,10 +299,12 @@ static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_sink_activate_push (GstPad * pad,
 static GstCaps *gst_audio_encoder_getcaps_default (GstAudioEncoder * enc,
     GstCaps * filter);
 
-static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_sink_setcaps (GstAudioEncoder * enc,
     GstCaps * caps);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean gst_audio_encoder_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
@@ -828,7 +830,7 @@ gst_audio_encoder_set_base_gp (GstAudioEncoder * enc)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_audio_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_audio_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstAudioEncoder *enc;
   GstAudioEncoderPrivate *priv;
@@ -837,7 +839,7 @@ gst_audio_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   gboolean discont;
   gsize size;
 
-  enc = GST_AUDIO_ENCODER (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  enc = GST_AUDIO_ENCODER (parent);
 
   priv = enc->priv;
   ctx = &enc->priv->ctx;
@@ -1315,14 +1317,15 @@ gst_audio_encoder_sink_eventfunc (GstAudioEncoder * enc, GstEvent * event)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstAudioEncoder *enc;
   GstAudioEncoderClass *klass;
   gboolean handled = FALSE;
   gboolean ret = TRUE;
 
-  enc = GST_AUDIO_ENCODER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  enc = GST_AUDIO_ENCODER (parent);
   klass = GST_AUDIO_ENCODER_GET_CLASS (enc);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (enc, "received event %d, %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE (event),
@@ -1346,7 +1349,7 @@ gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
     if (!GST_EVENT_IS_SERIALIZED (event)
         || GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_EOS
         || GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP) {
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
     } else {
       GST_AUDIO_ENCODER_STREAM_LOCK (enc);
       enc->priv->pending_events =
@@ -1358,7 +1361,6 @@ gst_audio_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (enc, "event handled");
 
-  gst_object_unref (enc);
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasedepayload.c b/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasedepayload.c
index f5d1f3ebe1..4986718860 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasedepayload.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasedepayload.c
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ static void gst_rtp_base_depayload_get_property (GObject * object,
     guint prop_id, GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
 
 static GstFlowReturn gst_rtp_base_depayload_chain (GstPad * pad,
-    GstBuffer * in);
+    GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * in);
 static gboolean gst_rtp_base_depayload_handle_sink_event (GstPad * pad,
-    GstEvent * event);
+    GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_rtp_base_depayload_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ gst_rtp_base_depayload_setcaps (GstRTPBaseDepayload * filter, GstCaps * caps)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_rtp_base_depayload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * in)
+gst_rtp_base_depayload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * in)
 {
   GstRTPBaseDepayload *filter;
   GstRTPBaseDepayloadPrivate *priv;
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ gst_rtp_base_depayload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * in)
   gint gap;
   GstRTPBuffer rtp;
 
-  filter = GST_RTP_BASE_DEPAYLOAD (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  filter = GST_RTP_BASE_DEPAYLOAD (parent);
   priv = filter->priv;
 
   /* we must have a setcaps first */
@@ -446,25 +446,20 @@ gst_rtp_base_depayload_handle_event (GstRTPBaseDepayload * filter,
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_rtp_base_depayload_handle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_rtp_base_depayload_handle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res = FALSE;
   GstRTPBaseDepayload *filter;
   GstRTPBaseDepayloadClass *bclass;
 
-  filter = GST_RTP_BASE_DEPAYLOAD (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (filter == NULL)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
+  filter = GST_RTP_BASE_DEPAYLOAD (parent);
   bclass = GST_RTP_BASE_DEPAYLOAD_GET_CLASS (filter);
   if (bclass->handle_event)
     res = bclass->handle_event (filter, event);
   else
     gst_event_unref (event);
 
-  gst_object_unref (filter);
   return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasepayload.c b/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasepayload.c
index 045885b022..dc2d6093f5 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasepayload.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/rtp/gstrtpbasepayload.c
@@ -102,13 +102,13 @@ static GstCaps *gst_rtp_base_payload_getcaps_default (GstRTPBasePayload *
 static gboolean gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event_default (GstRTPBasePayload *
     rtpbasepayload, GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event (GstPad * pad,
-    GstEvent * event);
+    GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_rtp_base_payload_query_default (GstRTPBasePayload *
     rtpbasepayload, GstPad * pad, GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean gst_rtp_base_payload_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_rtp_base_payload_chain (GstPad * pad,
-    GstBuffer * buffer);
+    GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer);
 
 static void gst_rtp_base_payload_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
     const GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
@@ -120,8 +120,6 @@ static GstStateChangeReturn gst_rtp_base_payload_change_state (GstElement *
 
 static GstElementClass *parent_class = NULL;
 
-/* FIXME 0.11: API should be changed to gst_base_typ_payload_xyz */
-
 GType
 gst_rtp_base_payload_get_type (void)
 {
@@ -344,14 +342,15 @@ static gboolean
 gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event_default (GstRTPBasePayload * rtpbasepayload,
     GstEvent * event)
 {
+  GstObject *parent = GST_OBJECT_CAST (rtpbasepayload);
   gboolean res = FALSE;
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, parent, event);
       gst_segment_init (&rtpbasepayload->segment, GST_FORMAT_UNDEFINED);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_CAPS:
@@ -380,29 +379,25 @@ gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event_default (GstRTPBasePayload * rtpbasepayload,
 
       GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (rtpbasepayload,
           "configured SEGMENT %" GST_SEGMENT_FORMAT, segment);
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     default:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (rtpbasepayload->sinkpad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
   return res;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstRTPBasePayload *rtpbasepayload;
   GstRTPBasePayloadClass *rtpbasepayload_class;
   gboolean res = FALSE;
 
-  rtpbasepayload = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (rtpbasepayload == NULL)) {
-    gst_event_unref (event);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
+  rtpbasepayload = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD (parent);
   rtpbasepayload_class = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD_GET_CLASS (rtpbasepayload);
 
   if (rtpbasepayload_class->sink_event)
@@ -410,8 +405,6 @@ gst_rtp_base_payload_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   else
     gst_event_unref (event);
 
-  gst_object_unref (rtpbasepayload);
-
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -464,13 +457,14 @@ gst_rtp_base_payload_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstQuery * query)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_rtp_base_payload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_rtp_base_payload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstRTPBasePayload *rtpbasepayload;
   GstRTPBasePayloadClass *rtpbasepayload_class;
   GstFlowReturn ret;
 
-  rtpbasepayload = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  rtpbasepayload = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD (parent);
   rtpbasepayload_class = GST_RTP_BASE_PAYLOAD_GET_CLASS (rtpbasepayload);
 
   if (!rtpbasepayload_class->handle_buffer)
@@ -478,8 +472,6 @@ gst_rtp_base_payload_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
 
   ret = rtpbasepayload_class->handle_buffer (rtpbasepayload, buffer);
 
-  gst_object_unref (rtpbasepayload);
-
   return ret;
 
   /* ERRORS */
@@ -487,7 +479,6 @@ no_function:
   {
     GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (rtpbasepayload, STREAM, NOT_IMPLEMENTED, (NULL),
         ("subclass did not implement handle_buffer function"));
-    gst_object_unref (rtpbasepayload);
     gst_buffer_unref (buffer);
     return GST_FLOW_ERROR;
   }
@@ -858,8 +849,8 @@ gst_rtp_base_payload_prepare_push (GstRTPBasePayload * payload,
       (is_list) ? -1 : gst_buffer_get_size (GST_BUFFER (obj)),
       payload->seqnum, data.rtptime, GST_TIME_ARGS (data.timestamp));
 
-  if (g_atomic_int_compare_and_exchange (&payload->priv->
-          notified_first_timestamp, 1, 0)) {
+  if (g_atomic_int_compare_and_exchange (&payload->
+          priv->notified_first_timestamp, 1, 0)) {
     g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (payload), "timestamp");
     g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (payload), "seqnum");
   }
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagdemux.c b/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagdemux.c
index e2a5a9a446..d7d8a45e7a 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagdemux.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagdemux.c
@@ -134,20 +134,23 @@ static GstStaticPadTemplate src_factory = GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("src",
 
 static void gst_tag_demux_dispose (GObject * object);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf);
-static gboolean gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
+static gboolean gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static gboolean gst_tag_demux_src_activate_pull (GstPad * pad, gboolean active);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_demux_read_range (GstTagDemux * tagdemux,
     guint64 offset, guint length, GstBuffer ** buffer);
 
 static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_demux_src_getrange (GstPad * srcpad,
-    guint64 offset, guint length, GstBuffer ** buffer);
+    GstObject * parent, guint64 offset, guint length, GstBuffer ** buffer);
 
 static void gst_tag_demux_set_src_caps (GstTagDemux * tagdemux,
     GstCaps * new_caps);
 
-static gboolean gst_tag_demux_srcpad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_tag_demux_srcpad_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_tag_demux_sink_activate (GstPad * sinkpad);
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_tag_demux_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
@@ -538,12 +541,12 @@ gst_tag_demux_chain_parse_tag (GstTagDemux * demux, GstBuffer * collect)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_tag_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_tag_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstTagDemux *demux;
   gsize size;
 
-  demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   size = gst_buffer_get_size (buf);
 
@@ -674,12 +677,12 @@ gst_tag_demux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstTagDemux *demux;
   gboolean ret;
 
-  demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_EOS:
@@ -687,7 +690,7 @@ gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
         GST_WARNING_OBJECT (demux, "EOS before we found a type");
         GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (demux, STREAM, TYPE_NOT_FOUND, (NULL), (NULL));
       }
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     case GST_EVENT_SEGMENT:
     {
@@ -700,7 +703,7 @@ gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
     }
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     default:
       if (demux->priv->need_newseg && GST_EVENT_IS_SERIALIZED (event)) {
@@ -713,12 +716,11 @@ gst_tag_demux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
         GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (demux);
         ret = TRUE;
       } else {
-        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+        ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       }
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (demux);
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -741,12 +743,12 @@ gst_tag_demux_get_upstream_size (GstTagDemux * tagdemux)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_tag_demux_srcpad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_tag_demux_srcpad_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstTagDemux *tagdemux;
   gboolean res = FALSE;
 
-  tagdemux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  tagdemux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   /* Handle SEEK events, with adjusted byte offsets and sizes. */
 
@@ -814,9 +816,9 @@ gst_tag_demux_srcpad_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (tagdemux);
   if (event)
     gst_event_unref (event);
+
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -1284,10 +1286,10 @@ read_beyond_end:
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_tag_demux_src_getrange (GstPad * srcpad,
+gst_tag_demux_src_getrange (GstPad * srcpad, GstObject * parent,
     guint64 offset, guint length, GstBuffer ** buffer)
 {
-  GstTagDemux *demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (GST_PAD_PARENT (srcpad));
+  GstTagDemux *demux = GST_TAG_DEMUX (parent);
 
   /* downstream in pull mode won't miss a newsegment event,
    * but it likely appreciates other (tag) events */
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagmux.c b/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagmux.c
index 6d0a7413c1..3f94708bc2 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagmux.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/tag/gsttagmux.c
@@ -88,8 +88,10 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_CODE (GstTagMux, gst_tag_mux, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT,
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn
 gst_tag_mux_change_state (GstElement * element, GstStateChange transition);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_mux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
-static gboolean gst_tag_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_tag_mux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean gst_tag_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static void
 gst_tag_mux_finalize (GObject * obj)
@@ -332,9 +334,9 @@ gst_tag_mux_adjust_event_offsets (GstTagMux * mux,
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_tag_mux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_tag_mux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
-  GstTagMux *mux = GST_TAG_MUX (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
+  GstTagMux *mux = GST_TAG_MUX (parent);
   GstFlowReturn ret;
   int length;
 
@@ -392,12 +394,12 @@ gst_tag_mux_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_tag_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_tag_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstTagMux *mux;
   gboolean result;
 
-  mux = GST_TAG_MUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  mux = GST_TAG_MUX (parent);
   result = FALSE;
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
@@ -478,16 +480,14 @@ gst_tag_mux_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       }
 
       /* Now forward EOS */
-      result = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      result = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     default:
-      result = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      result = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (mux);
-
   return result;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/adder/gstadder.c b/gst/adder/gstadder.c
index 03fc20d0b4..c2bdff26f6 100644
--- a/gst/adder/gstadder.c
+++ b/gst/adder/gstadder.c
@@ -110,8 +110,10 @@ static gboolean gst_adder_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static gboolean gst_adder_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
-static gboolean gst_adder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_adder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_adder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_adder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static GstPad *gst_adder_request_new_pad (GstElement * element,
     GstPadTemplate * temp, const gchar * unused, const GstCaps * caps);
@@ -627,12 +629,12 @@ done:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_adder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_adder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstAdder *adder;
   gboolean result;
 
-  adder = GST_ADDER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  adder = GST_ADDER (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "Got %s event on src pad",
       GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -738,18 +740,17 @@ gst_adder_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   }
 
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (adder);
 
   return result;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_adder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_adder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstAdder *adder;
   gboolean ret = TRUE;
 
-  adder = GST_ADDER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  adder = GST_ADDER (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "Got %s event on sink pad",
       GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -803,10 +804,9 @@ gst_adder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   }
 
   /* now GstCollectPads can take care of the rest, e.g. EOS */
-  ret = adder->collect_event (pad, event);
+  ret = adder->collect_event (pad, parent, event);
 
 beach:
-  gst_object_unref (adder);
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/audiorate/gstaudiorate.c b/gst/audiorate/gstaudiorate.c
index f92e613167..3e7d07686a 100644
--- a/gst/audiorate/gstaudiorate.c
+++ b/gst/audiorate/gstaudiorate.c
@@ -106,9 +106,12 @@ GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("sink",
     GST_STATIC_CAPS (GST_AUDIO_CAPS_MAKE (GST_AUDIO_FORMATS_ALL))
     );
 
-static gboolean gst_audio_rate_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_audio_rate_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_rate_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf);
+static gboolean gst_audio_rate_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_audio_rate_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_audio_rate_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
 
 static void gst_audio_rate_set_property (GObject * object,
     guint prop_id, const GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
@@ -264,16 +267,16 @@ gst_audio_rate_fill_to_time (GstAudioRate * audiorate, GstClockTime time)
    * it will take care of filling */
   buf = gst_buffer_new ();
   GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buf) = time;
-  gst_audio_rate_chain (audiorate->sinkpad, buf);
+  gst_audio_rate_chain (audiorate->sinkpad, GST_OBJECT_CAST (audiorate), buf);
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_audio_rate_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_audio_rate_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res;
   GstAudioRate *audiorate;
 
-  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_CAPS:
@@ -340,18 +343,16 @@ gst_audio_rate_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (audiorate);
-
   return res;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_audio_rate_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_audio_rate_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res;
   GstAudioRate *audiorate;
 
-  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     default:
@@ -359,8 +360,6 @@ gst_audio_rate_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (audiorate);
-
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -419,7 +418,7 @@ gst_audio_rate_notify_add (GstAudioRate * audiorate)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_audio_rate_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_audio_rate_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstAudioRate *audiorate;
   GstClockTime in_time;
@@ -429,7 +428,7 @@ gst_audio_rate_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
   GstClockTimeDiff diff;
   gint rate, bpf;
 
-  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  audiorate = GST_AUDIO_RATE (parent);
 
   rate = GST_AUDIO_INFO_RATE (&audiorate->info);
   bpf = GST_AUDIO_INFO_BPF (&audiorate->info);
@@ -658,8 +657,6 @@ beach:
   if (buf)
     gst_buffer_unref (buf);
 
-  gst_object_unref (audiorate);
-
   return ret;
 
   /* ERRORS */
diff --git a/gst/encoding/gstsmartencoder.c b/gst/encoding/gstsmartencoder.c
index a7949d733e..ec57f72554 100644
--- a/gst/encoding/gstsmartencoder.c
+++ b/gst/encoding/gstsmartencoder.c
@@ -78,8 +78,10 @@ static void gst_smart_encoder_dispose (GObject * object);
 
 static gboolean setup_recoder_pipeline (GstSmartEncoder * smart_encoder);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_smart_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf);
-static gboolean smart_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_smart_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
+static gboolean smart_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean smart_encoder_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
 static GstCaps *smart_encoder_sink_getcaps (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * filter);
@@ -290,13 +292,13 @@ gst_smart_encoder_push_pending_gop (GstSmartEncoder * smart_encoder)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_smart_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_smart_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstSmartEncoder *smart_encoder;
   GstFlowReturn res = GST_FLOW_OK;
   gboolean discont, keyframe;
 
-  smart_encoder = GST_SMART_ENCODER (gst_object_get_parent (GST_OBJECT (pad)));
+  smart_encoder = GST_SMART_ENCODER (parent);
 
   discont = GST_BUFFER_IS_DISCONT (buf);
   keyframe = !GST_BUFFER_FLAG_IS_SET (buf, GST_BUFFER_FLAG_DELTA_UNIT);
@@ -337,15 +339,14 @@ gst_smart_encoder_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
       GST_TIME_ARGS (smart_encoder->gop_stop));
 
 beach:
-  gst_object_unref (smart_encoder);
   return res;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-smart_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+smart_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res = TRUE;
-  GstSmartEncoder *smart_encoder = GST_SMART_ENCODER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSmartEncoder *smart_encoder = GST_SMART_ENCODER (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
@@ -377,7 +378,6 @@ smart_encoder_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
   res = gst_pad_push_event (smart_encoder->srcpad, event);
 
-  gst_object_unref (smart_encoder);
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ get_encoder (GstCaps * caps)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-internal_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+internal_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstSmartEncoder *smart_encoder =
       g_object_get_qdata ((GObject *) pad, INTERNAL_ELEMENT);
diff --git a/gst/encoding/gststreamcombiner.c b/gst/encoding/gststreamcombiner.c
index 57f7553037..5cf7629933 100644
--- a/gst/encoding/gststreamcombiner.c
+++ b/gst/encoding/gststreamcombiner.c
@@ -92,10 +92,9 @@ gst_stream_combiner_dispose (GObject * object)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_stream_combiner_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_stream_combiner_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
-  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner =
-      (GstStreamCombiner *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner = (GstStreamCombiner *) parent;
   /* FIXME : IMPLEMENT */
 
   /* with lock taken, check if we're the active stream, if not drop */
@@ -103,10 +102,10 @@ gst_stream_combiner_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_combiner_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_combiner_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner =
-      (GstStreamCombiner *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner = (GstStreamCombiner *) parent;
   /* FIXME : IMPLEMENT */
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "Got event %s", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -141,10 +140,10 @@ gst_stream_combiner_sink_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_combiner_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_combiner_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner =
-      (GstStreamCombiner *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamCombiner *stream_combiner = (GstStreamCombiner *) parent;
   GstPad *sinkpad = NULL;
 
   STREAMS_LOCK (stream_combiner);
diff --git a/gst/encoding/gststreamsplitter.c b/gst/encoding/gststreamsplitter.c
index 9bd9d78ec1..a7d337628c 100644
--- a/gst/encoding/gststreamsplitter.c
+++ b/gst/encoding/gststreamsplitter.c
@@ -99,10 +99,9 @@ gst_stream_splitter_dispose (GObject * object)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_stream_splitter_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_stream_splitter_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
-  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter =
-      (GstStreamSplitter *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter = (GstStreamSplitter *) parent;
   GstFlowReturn res;
   GstPad *srcpad = NULL;
 
@@ -138,10 +137,10 @@ nopad:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_splitter_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_splitter_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter =
-      (GstStreamSplitter *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter = (GstStreamSplitter *) parent;
   gboolean res = TRUE;
   gboolean toall = FALSE;
   gboolean store = FALSE;
@@ -381,10 +380,10 @@ beach:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_splitter_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_splitter_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter =
-      (GstStreamSplitter *) GST_PAD_PARENT (pad);
+  GstStreamSplitter *stream_splitter = (GstStreamSplitter *) parent;
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "%s", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
 
diff --git a/gst/gdp/gstgdpdepay.c b/gst/gdp/gstgdpdepay.c
index d5cc81d37d..6d17ab3d7b 100644
--- a/gst/gdp/gstgdpdepay.c
+++ b/gst/gdp/gstgdpdepay.c
@@ -69,10 +69,13 @@ GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_STATIC (gst_gdp_depay_debug);
 G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_CODE (GstGDPDepay, gst_gdp_depay,
     GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, _do_init);
 
-static gboolean gst_gdp_depay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_gdp_depay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_gdp_depay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_gdp_depay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_gdp_depay_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
@@ -141,12 +144,12 @@ gst_gdp_depay_finalize (GObject * gobject)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_gdp_depay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_gdp_depay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstGDPDepay *this;
   gboolean res = TRUE;
 
-  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_START:
@@ -171,18 +174,17 @@ gst_gdp_depay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       gst_event_unref (event);
       break;
   }
-  gst_object_unref (this);
 
   return res;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_gdp_depay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_gdp_depay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstGDPDepay *this;
   gboolean res = TRUE;
 
-  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:
@@ -197,13 +199,12 @@ gst_gdp_depay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       res = gst_pad_push_event (this->sinkpad, event);
       break;
   }
-  gst_object_unref (this);
 
   return res;
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstGDPDepay *this;
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
@@ -212,7 +213,7 @@ gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   GstEvent *event;
   guint available;
 
-  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  this = GST_GDP_DEPAY (parent);
 
   /* On DISCONT, get rid of accumulated data. We assume a buffer after the
    * DISCONT contains (part of) a new valid header, if not we error because we
@@ -386,7 +387,6 @@ gst_gdp_depay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   }
 
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (this);
   return ret;
 
   /* ERRORS */
diff --git a/gst/gdp/gstgdppay.c b/gst/gdp/gstgdppay.c
index 6c59dface5..b9c3cbc787 100644
--- a/gst/gdp/gstgdppay.c
+++ b/gst/gdp/gstgdppay.c
@@ -75,9 +75,12 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_CODE (GstGDPPay, gst_gdp_pay, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, _do_init);
 
 static void gst_gdp_pay_reset (GstGDPPay * this);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer);
-static gboolean gst_gdp_pay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_gdp_pay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer);
+static gboolean gst_gdp_pay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_gdp_pay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_gdp_pay_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
@@ -548,7 +551,7 @@ gst_gdp_queue_buffer (GstGDPPay * this, GstBuffer * buffer)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstGDPPay *this;
 #if 0
@@ -557,7 +560,7 @@ gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   GstBuffer *outbuffer;
   GstFlowReturn ret;
 
-  this = GST_GDP_PAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  this = GST_GDP_PAY (parent);
 
   /* we should have received a new_segment before, otherwise it's a bug.
    * fake one in that case */
@@ -636,7 +639,7 @@ gst_gdp_pay_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
 
 done:
   gst_buffer_unref (buffer);
-  gst_object_unref (this);
+
   return ret;
 
   /* ERRORS */
@@ -671,10 +674,10 @@ no_buffer:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_gdp_pay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_gdp_pay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstBuffer *outbuffer;
-  GstGDPPay *this = GST_GDP_PAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstGDPPay *this = GST_GDP_PAY (parent);
   GstFlowReturn flowret;
   GstCaps *caps;
   gboolean ret = TRUE;
@@ -751,7 +754,6 @@ gst_gdp_pay_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
 done:
   gst_event_unref (event);
-  gst_object_unref (this);
 
   return ret;
 
@@ -780,12 +782,12 @@ push_error:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_gdp_pay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_gdp_pay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstGDPPay *this;
   gboolean res = TRUE;
 
-  this = GST_GDP_PAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  this = GST_GDP_PAY (parent);
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:
@@ -800,7 +802,6 @@ gst_gdp_pay_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       res = gst_pad_push_event (this->sinkpad, event);
       break;
   }
-  gst_object_unref (this);
 
   return res;
 }
diff --git a/gst/playback/gstplaysinkconvertbin.c b/gst/playback/gstplaysinkconvertbin.c
index ddfde3ac8e..dbd233b9c1 100644
--- a/gst/playback/gstplaysinkconvertbin.c
+++ b/gst/playback/gstplaysinkconvertbin.c
@@ -248,10 +248,10 @@ unblock:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_play_sink_convert_bin_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_play_sink_convert_bin_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstPlaySinkConvertBin *self =
-      GST_PLAY_SINK_CONVERT_BIN (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstPlaySinkConvertBin *self = GST_PLAY_SINK_CONVERT_BIN (parent);
   gboolean ret;
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ gst_play_sink_convert_bin_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, gst_event_ref (event));
+  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, parent, gst_event_ref (event));
 
   if (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_SEGMENT) {
     GstSegment seg;
@@ -289,7 +289,6 @@ gst_play_sink_convert_bin_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   }
 
   gst_event_unref (event);
-  gst_object_unref (self);
 
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/gst/playback/gststreamsynchronizer.c b/gst/playback/gststreamsynchronizer.c
index 743bfaf7bb..5dca2820d4 100644
--- a/gst/playback/gststreamsynchronizer.c
+++ b/gst/playback/gststreamsynchronizer.c
@@ -154,10 +154,10 @@ gst_stream_synchronizer_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
 
 /* srcpad functions */
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_synchronizer_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_synchronizer_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamSynchronizer *self =
-      GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstStreamSynchronizer *self = GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (parent);
   GstPad *opad;
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
 
@@ -227,17 +227,15 @@ skip_adjustments:
   }
 
 out:
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
 /* sinkpad functions */
 static gboolean
-gst_stream_synchronizer_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_stream_synchronizer_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstStreamSynchronizer *self =
-      GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstStreamSynchronizer *self = GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (parent);
   GstPad *opad;
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
 
@@ -498,16 +496,14 @@ skip_adjustments:
   }
 
 done:
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_stream_synchronizer_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_stream_synchronizer_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
-  GstStreamSynchronizer *self =
-      GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstStreamSynchronizer *self = GST_STREAM_SYNCHRONIZER (parent);
   GstPad *opad;
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_ERROR;
   GstStream *stream;
@@ -618,9 +614,6 @@ gst_stream_synchronizer_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   }
 
 done:
-
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c b/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
index dfd257db28..03dea41cc7 100644
--- a/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
+++ b/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
@@ -1629,13 +1629,14 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_class_init (GstSubtitleOverlayClass * klass)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_chain (GstPad * proxypad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_chain (GstPad * proxypad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
   GstPad *ghostpad;
   GstSubtitleOverlay *self;
   GstFlowReturn ret;
 
-  ghostpad = GST_PAD_CAST (gst_pad_get_parent (proxypad));
+  ghostpad = GST_PAD_CAST (parent);
   if (G_UNLIKELY (!ghostpad)) {
     gst_buffer_unref (buffer);
     return GST_FLOW_ERROR;
@@ -1647,7 +1648,7 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_chain (GstPad * proxypad, GstBuffer * buffer)
     return GST_FLOW_ERROR;
   }
 
-  ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (proxypad, buffer);
+  ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (proxypad, parent, buffer);
 
   if (IS_VIDEO_CHAIN_IGNORE_ERROR (ret)) {
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (self, "Downstream chain error: %s",
@@ -1656,20 +1657,20 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_chain (GstPad * proxypad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   }
 
   gst_object_unref (self);
-  gst_object_unref (ghostpad);
 
   return ret;
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_event (GstPad * proxypad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_event (GstPad * proxypad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
   GstPad *ghostpad = NULL;
   GstSubtitleOverlay *self = NULL;
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
   const GstStructure *s;
 
-  ghostpad = GST_PAD_CAST (gst_pad_get_parent (proxypad));
+  ghostpad = GST_PAD_CAST (parent);
   if (G_UNLIKELY (!ghostpad))
     goto out;
   self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY_CAST (gst_pad_get_parent (ghostpad));
@@ -1684,7 +1685,7 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_src_proxy_event (GstPad * proxypad, GstEvent * event)
     event = NULL;
     ret = TRUE;
   } else {
-    ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (proxypad, event);
+    ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (proxypad, parent, event);
     event = NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1693,8 +1694,7 @@ out:
     gst_event_unref (event);
   if (self)
     gst_object_unref (self);
-  if (ghostpad)
-    gst_object_unref (ghostpad);
+
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1744,9 +1744,10 @@ out:
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
   gboolean ret;
 
   switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
@@ -1772,7 +1773,7 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, gst_event_ref (event));
+  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, parent, gst_event_ref (event));
 
   if (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_SEGMENT) {
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "segment event: %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, event);
@@ -1784,7 +1785,6 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
 
 done:
   gst_event_unref (event);
-  gst_object_unref (self);
 
   return ret;
 
@@ -1799,10 +1799,11 @@ invalid_format:
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
-  GstFlowReturn ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (pad, buffer);
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
+  GstFlowReturn ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (pad, parent, buffer);
 
   if (G_UNLIKELY (self->downstream_chain_error) || self->passthrough_identity) {
     return ret;
@@ -1822,15 +1823,16 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_video_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   if (self->subtitle_error) {
     gst_buffer_unref (buffer);
     return GST_FLOW_OK;
   } else {
-    GstFlowReturn ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (pad, buffer);
+    GstFlowReturn ret = gst_proxy_pad_chain_default (pad, parent, buffer);
 
     if (IS_SUBTITLE_CHAIN_IGNORE_ERROR (ret)) {
       GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (self, "Subtitle chain error: %s",
@@ -1970,9 +1972,10 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_unlink (GstPad * pad)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
   gboolean ret;
 
   if (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_CUSTOM_DOWNSTREAM_OOB &&
@@ -2026,7 +2029,7 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, gst_event_ref (event));
+  ret = gst_proxy_pad_event_default (pad, parent, gst_event_ref (event));
 
   if (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event) == GST_EVENT_SEGMENT) {
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "segment event: %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, event);
@@ -2037,7 +2040,6 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   gst_event_unref (event);
 
 out:
-  gst_object_unref (self);
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/subparse/gstssaparse.c b/gst/subparse/gstssaparse.c
index 48c83f7e4f..f94153d6b2 100644
--- a/gst/subparse/gstssaparse.c
+++ b/gst/subparse/gstssaparse.c
@@ -50,9 +50,12 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstSsaParse, gst_ssa_parse, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT);
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_ssa_parse_change_state (GstElement *
     element, GstStateChange transition);
 static gboolean gst_ssa_parse_setcaps (GstPad * sinkpad, GstCaps * caps);
-static gboolean gst_ssa_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static gboolean gst_ssa_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
-static GstFlowReturn gst_ssa_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstBuffer * buf);
+static gboolean gst_ssa_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_ssa_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_ssa_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
 
 static void
 gst_ssa_parse_dispose (GObject * object)
@@ -112,13 +115,13 @@ gst_ssa_parse_class_init (GstSsaParseClass * klass)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ssa_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ssa_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
-  return gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+  return gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_ssa_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_ssa_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
   gboolean res;
 
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ gst_ssa_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
     }
     default:
-      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      res = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
   return res;
@@ -304,10 +307,10 @@ gst_ssa_parse_push_line (GstSsaParse * parse, gchar * txt,
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_ssa_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_ssa_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstFlowReturn ret;
-  GstSsaParse *parse = GST_SSA_PARSE (GST_PAD_PARENT (sinkpad));
+  GstSsaParse *parse = GST_SSA_PARSE (parent);
   GstClockTime ts;
   gchar *txt;
   gchar *data;
diff --git a/gst/subparse/gstsubparse.c b/gst/subparse/gstsubparse.c
index e6428d2468..404be726a8 100644
--- a/gst/subparse/gstsubparse.c
+++ b/gst/subparse/gstsubparse.c
@@ -80,15 +80,18 @@ static GstStaticPadTemplate src_templ = GST_STATIC_PAD_TEMPLATE ("src",
     );
 
 
-static gboolean gst_sub_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_sub_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 static gboolean gst_sub_parse_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
     GstQuery * query);
-static gboolean gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
+static gboolean gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstEvent * event);
 
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_sub_parse_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
 
-static GstFlowReturn gst_sub_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstBuffer * buf);
+static GstFlowReturn gst_sub_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstBuffer * buf);
 
 #define gst_sub_parse_parent_class parent_class
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstSubParse, gst_sub_parse, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT);
@@ -259,9 +262,9 @@ gst_sub_parse_src_query (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstQuery * query)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_sub_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_sub_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstSubParse *self = GST_SUBPARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSubParse *self = GST_SUBPARSE (parent);
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
 
   GST_DEBUG ("Handling %s event", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -310,13 +313,11 @@ gst_sub_parse_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
       break;
     }
     default:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
 beach:
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1528,12 +1529,12 @@ handle_buffer (GstSubParse * self, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn
-gst_sub_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstBuffer * buf)
+gst_sub_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
 {
   GstFlowReturn ret;
   GstSubParse *self;
 
-  self = GST_SUBPARSE (GST_PAD_PARENT (sinkpad));
+  self = GST_SUBPARSE (parent);
 
   /* Push newsegment if needed */
   if (self->need_segment) {
@@ -1550,9 +1551,9 @@ gst_sub_parse_chain (GstPad * sinkpad, GstBuffer * buf)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
+gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 {
-  GstSubParse *self = GST_SUBPARSE (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSubParse *self = GST_SUBPARSE (parent);
   gboolean ret = FALSE;
 
   GST_DEBUG ("Handling %s event", GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event));
@@ -1573,9 +1574,9 @@ gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
         gst_buffer_set_size (buf, 2);
 
         GST_BUFFER_OFFSET (buf) = self->offset;
-        gst_sub_parse_chain (pad, buf);
+        gst_sub_parse_chain (pad, parent, buf);
       }
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     case GST_EVENT_SEGMENT:
@@ -1600,23 +1601,21 @@ gst_sub_parse_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
     {
       self->flushing = TRUE;
 
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     case GST_EVENT_FLUSH_STOP:
     {
       self->flushing = FALSE;
 
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
     }
     default:
-      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
+      ret = gst_pad_event_default (pad, parent, event);
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }