Bite the bullet

“… what I am saying to you loud and clear today is that this Australian Government believes the time has come to bite the bullet on this and we intend to do so..” 

I like the sound of this phrase from the Prime Minister, I like the way the Productivity Commission angled its report into support for parents with newborn children, and I really like the sound of a proper maternity leave scheme in this country!

From here:

Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald was unapologetic about the proposal to pay working mothers more, arguing: “This is a workplace entitlement. It is not a welfare measure.”

And in their own words from the Productivity Commission:

The more that parental leave arrangements mimic those that exist as part of routine employment contracts, the more they will be seen by employers and employees as standard employment arrangements, with the dual effect of:

Promoting employment continuity and workplace retention (thus helping to preserve job and employer-specific skills that would be reduced if parents were to resign or move to another employer) and reducing training costs for employers signalling that looking after children while still being employed is just a normal part of working life.

Eva Cox is spot on in a piece today for Crikey (they don’t offer free content or I’d link to it):

This report takes nothing from those not in paid work, and some more who are still not eligible but adds a substantial payment to those mainly low paid workers, often part time or regular casuals, who had the most difficulty in bargaining for any paid leave. They will now be more likely to be able to take time off. These include most of the 16% who now return to work within the first three months.

It also includes for the first time two weeks for fathers on a use it or lose it basis. Of course, there are gaps: too many workers still miss out, six months would have been better and seeking top ups to real replacements are still an issue, but it is a huge first step, if we get it!