WoLFi TaLEs

The time is drawing closer to the first comprehensive paid parental leave scheme to be introduced in Australia. From 1 Jan 2011 parents who are the primary carers of a child born or adopted after this date will be eligible for $543.78 a week  for up to 18 weeks. Although primary carer, may in most cases be the mother, being that this has been the dominant social trend up until now, fathers are also eligible. There is also the opportunity to take turns as the role of primary carer. Parents whose previous employment was casual, contract or self-employed are all eligible to apply. Now although compared to some countries that have far more generous parental leave schemes such as the UK or Scandinavia, many work-family advocates believe this scheme is an important first step, one that could be improved over time. Something is better than nothing – or the very patchy situation we have now.

Which is why, when Tony Abbott (our Conservative Opposition leader)  tried to suggest an even bigger and better parental leave scheme -  a grandiose vote grabber with no detail – with the result that those who had been advocating for paid parental leave for decades got nervous.  Particularly as this same politician a few years back was a completely against the very idea of compulsory parental leave. Another problem with the Abbott version – is that it is more of maternity leave rather than the more equally shared option of parental leave of the Rudd version.

So in order to get parental leave happening in 2011, the National Foundation of Australian Women have drafted an open letter to senators and MPs to pressure the pollies to get this important piece of legislation through. I’ve signed it, and so can you if you think it’s worth supporting.