ALP against six months leave

Posted by Jenni Colwill on 1 June 2010 | 0 Comments

On May 27 the Liberal Party attempted, and failed, to amend the government’s paid parental leave scheme to increase it to 6 months leave on full income replacement. The amendment was defeated.

You can read the Second Reading Speeches for yourself.

The following members spoke against the increases: 

• Chris Hayes, ALP, Member for Werriwa 
• Catherine King, ALP, Member for Ballarat 
• Darren Chester, National Party, Member for Gippsland 
• Maxine McKew, ALP, Member for Bennelong 
• Yvette D’Ath, ALP, Member for Petrie 
• Shayne Neumann, ALP, Member for Blair 
• Jim Turnour, ALP, Member for Leichhardt

Of course, the Liberal Party proposal was always a bit suspicious, coming after many years in government when they did nothing about parental leave, but who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Equally strange is that the ALP’s main argument against the amendment was on economic grounds, not on social grounds. They claimed to be protecting business from a tax imposition implicit in the Liberal party scheme.

I used to believe that it was the Liberal Party who supports the interests of big business above the interests of the people. Not any more.

I also know enough about economics to know that governments always afford to do whatever it is that they think is important.

The only conclusion I can draw from all this is that the ALP does not think that 6 months parental leave is as important as protecting business from a relatively small tax ... even though the evidence shows this would ensure the best possible start for newborn babies.

So to those who think that the ALP scheme is a ‘first step’ towards something grander .... you’re dreaming.