The Labor Government's new paid parental leave scheme is a significant win for all working families, writes CPSU Assistant National Secretary, Louise Persse.
It was in the early 1980s that working Australians and their unions started campaigning for a paid parental leave scheme.
The passing of the scheme by the Senate last week is a big win for everyone who has fought long and hard for more support for working parents.
As every parent knows, the first six months of a new baby's life are critical and we have long needed to do more to support new parents and newborn babies.
Delivering on a key election promise, Kevin Rudd's government has announced a new scheme that gives every primary carer of a new baby 18 weeks of paid leave at the federal minimum wage.
It's a great result for the health and wellbeing of parents and children and a great result for the economy as it will help keep women in the workforce, if that is their choice.
Australia and the United States have been the only two OECD countries that do not offer paid maternity leave.
While many public sector workers have had the benefit of paid maternity leave for some time, two-thirds of Australian women who have a baby currently receive no paid parental leave.
Many CPSU members have fought long and hard for real measures to help women balance their work and family responsibilities and lead fulfilling working lives.
Our members have attended rallies, participated in the Productivity Commission inquiry in Canberra, given their views in surveys, and joined 25,000 other people who signed a petition presented to all political parties last week urging the Senate to pass the Bill.
I'd like to thank you for your commitment. This is a great victory that will make a real difference for all families.
About the new scheme
Under the new scheme, the initial primary carer of a child who earns $150,000 a year or less will receive $570 a week for 18 weeks, allowing them to focus on the health of their child and themselves, rather than money worries.
The Government's scheme will start on January 1, 2011, for babies born, or children under 16, who are adopted on or after January 1, 2011. If your child is born or adopted before January 1 2011, you may be able to get the Baby Bonus. Generally, parents receiving Paid Parental Leave will not receive the Baby Bonus.
For most workers the scheme will complement their current parental leave entitlements. This means parents will receive their current entitlement (a minimum 12 weeks paid parental leave at their current wage) and up to 18 weeks pay at the minimum wage on top of that.
To find out more about how this new scheme will work with your current arrangements, read our question and answer sheet here.
Going forward
While the new paid parental leave scheme is a step in the right direction, we are continuing the fight to win more support for working families.
The CPSU has been fighting for better parental leave entitlements for many years. In March 2008 the CPSU Governing Council endorsed a plan to campaign to increase maternity leave entitlements to 26 weeks over the next five years and we will continue to push for positive change.
Comments(12)
Posted by:Eunice - 13 Jul 2010, 9:19pm Dear Mark & Alan - Kiss & make up boys - this is great not just on our doorsteps but our children & grandchildren will have more choice - & I don't mean leisure & luxury choices - those like you, Mark, who have currently made the sacrifices to have one parent stay home, great, but there are very significant numbers of families who are even worse off - It doesn't matter what they "sacrifice", they still can't afford to have only a single income - many people can't get a full time position - they have suffered misfortune, illness, tragedy. Both parents have to work. I believe in helping those who "can't" because I can. There will always be those who abuse the systems we put in place, but with the majority Australians, we are honest & need support from each other - true - I won't benefit from this new legislation, but isn't it great that others will!
Posted by:Tam - 25 Jun 2010, 9:13am The community DOES get the benefit if parents are able to stay at home for a reasonable amount of time with new babies. Increased ability to breastfeed for a decent time frame is one massive benefit. Yes, it's possible to breastfeed once back at work, but you have to be very committed and have a good workplace to support this. Babies being at home, cared for by their parents is another massive benefit - means less tiny babies in daycare, getting all the illnesses under the sun, therefore less requirement for medical intervention, etc, etc. I have managed to live well within my meagre means, and support my family with my savings - we prepared long and hard before having our kids. Yay for me!! And I think this is a BRILLIANT scheme and I am happy to support a worthwhile cause with my tax dollars.
Posted by:Elizabeth - 24 Jun 2010, 3:30pm I think it is great for the lucky ones who qualify, but having children is a choice - financial and emotional - and should be planned accordingly. If you earn over $100k should my tax dollars really go towards improving your lifestyle? I don't earn anywhere near that amount, let alone $150k and support my family also. I would rather the tax dollars went into hospitals and education where the whole community gets the benefit.
Posted by:Mark Bloomfield - 24 Jun 2010, 1:59pm Alan, it is called living within your means. Can you produce a budget for this CAN NOT afford not to both work family? Living in McMansions, two cars, holidays, private schools, Ipods, plasma TV, video games - all the ESSENTIALS of life. Your/their choices, just don't ask me to pay for it! Or if you do, then where is my equal share?
Posted by:Alan Knight - 24 Jun 2010, 10:55am Question for Mark - if you stay home to nurture your childrens (admirable choice)why would you need leave. there are families that CAN NOT afford to stay home just to make ends meet. This leave is for that section of the work force my friend.
On the leave - well done to all who fought the hard fight to achieve this outcome.
Dear Mark & Alan - Kiss & make up boys - this is great not just on our doorsteps but our children & grandchildren will have more choice - & I don't mean leisure & luxury choices - those like you, Mark, who have currently made the sacrifices to have one parent stay home, great, but there are very significant numbers of families who are even worse off - It doesn't matter what they "sacrifice", they still can't afford to have only a single income - many people can't get a full time position - they have suffered misfortune, illness, tragedy. Both parents have to work. I believe in helping those who "can't" because I can. There will always be those who abuse the systems we put in place, but with the majority Australians, we are honest & need support from each other - true - I won't benefit from this new legislation, but isn't it great that others will!
The community DOES get the benefit if parents are able to stay at home for a reasonable amount of time with new babies. Increased ability to breastfeed for a decent time frame is one massive benefit. Yes, it's possible to breastfeed once back at work, but you have to be very committed and have a good workplace to support this. Babies being at home, cared for by their parents is another massive benefit - means less tiny babies in daycare, getting all the illnesses under the sun, therefore less requirement for medical intervention, etc, etc. I have managed to live well within my meagre means, and support my family with my savings - we prepared long and hard before having our kids. Yay for me!! And I think this is a BRILLIANT scheme and I am happy to support a worthwhile cause with my tax dollars.
I think it is great for the lucky ones who qualify, but having children is a choice - financial and emotional - and should be planned accordingly. If you earn over $100k should my tax dollars really go towards improving your lifestyle? I don't earn anywhere near that amount, let alone $150k and support my family also. I would rather the tax dollars went into hospitals and education where the whole community gets the benefit.
Alan, it is called living within your means. Can you produce a budget for this CAN NOT afford not to both work family? Living in McMansions, two cars, holidays, private schools, Ipods, plasma TV, video games - all the ESSENTIALS of life. Your/their choices, just don't ask me to pay for it! Or if you do, then where is my equal share?
Question for Mark - if you stay home to nurture your childrens (admirable choice)why would you need leave. there are families that CAN NOT afford to stay home just to make ends meet. This leave is for that section of the work force my friend. On the leave - well done to all who fought the hard fight to achieve this outcome.