I am constantly amazed at the Howard Government’s lack of interest in the real care and education of our children. Cutting corners on the health and well-being of today’s generation of children is a false economy, as the consequence costs to society of poorer lifetime health and lower educational achievements and social engagement are massive. There is a need to focus on areas such as paid parental leave, childcare and early childhood education, and work/life balance provisions within our workplace relations system as ways in which these outcomes can be achieved.
We have seen changes to workplace relations (’Work Choices’) that make it harder for working parents to balance their working commitments with their family life; we have seen changes to our welfare system (’Welfare to Work’) that takes money and entitlements away from parents on income support and introduces harsh compliance conditions; and we have seen changes to the funding of our schools which creates a two-tiered system that takes money away from public education.
Australia, and the United States, are the only two OECD countries without a paid maternity leave scheme. The overwhelming majority of Australians support such a scheme, with a Newspoll survey in July 2007 finding 76% of us support paid maternity leave for working women. There is no longer any valid reason why a country like Australia cannot support parents in caring for their new-born children in the first few vital weeks of life.
A paid parental leave scheme makes good economic sense, as well as being good social policy. International comparisons show better health outcomes for children where parents have access to a paid parental leave. Furthermore, a paid parental leave scheme encourages women to maintain attachment to the workforce - which is better for individual employers and the economy as a whole.
More than 20% of Australian employees work more than 50 hours a week, with increasing numbers of people working overtime, much of it unpaid. When parents are working unreasonable hours (that is, either long or unpredictable hours) it means less time for their children. We should be placing the well-being of our community and all of its members ahead of short-term economic considerations.
Access to affordable childcare is a crucial issue facing families around Australia. There is a lack of appropriate childcare places, quality assurance issues remain and there is a danger of a two-tiered childcare system emerging, with the most disadvantaged children receiving poorer quality care.
The key objective of a quality childcare and early childhood education system is the well-being of children and their future development. Community-based non-for-profit childcare centres provide a good option for affordable, accessible, quality childcare and should be supported through increased funding. This could be achieved through the providing of incentives for community-based on-site childcare facilities in the workplaces.
The first and most important step to creating an environment where employees can have more control over their working lives is the abolition of the Work Choices regime.
I have sometimes flirted with idea of voting Green, but then something comes along and puts me off. Last time it was the party’s policy on dividend imputation. Still, if I was to be put off by every stupid policy position, I’d have noone to vote for. So, what system of parental leave do the Greens advocate? How would it work?
I’m glad you asked spog - that’s exactly why we started this blog - to allow and encourage debate.
The Australian Greens are committed to a government-funded parental leave scheme for 18 weeks paid leave, a further 34 weeks unpaid leave (covering the current right of 12 months unpaid leave) and the right to request a further 12 months unpaid leave. The Greens support a paid parental leave scheme, which includes giving fathers the right to access paid leave to be the primary carer of their children.
A paid parental leave scheme makes good economic sense, as well as being good social policy. International comparisons show better health outcomes for children where parents have access to a paid parental leave. Furthermore, a paid parental leave scheme encourages women to maintain attachment to the workforce – which is better for individual employers and the economy as a whole.
Thanks Tim. Do you have more information than that? A link to a detailed policy perhaps?
It’s easy to say “let’s have paid parental leave” but the details are where Satan resides.
For example, what rate will be paid? Is it based on former wage levels, or some flat payment? What about those who have a baby and who weren’t working? How would it work with the exisiting income support arrangements, and would it be taxable, like normal leave?
Cheers
Spog