No consensus among local supporters of paid maternity leave

By Anne Von Fehrn

Locals were left divided over an agreed period of paid maternity leave at a community forum last week.
The long-standing issue was once again brought to the forefront at Customs House during a ‘Common Grounds’ public forum hosted by the Centre for Policy Development.
Guest speaker Sharan Burrow from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) put forward a minimum wage government-funded scheme of 14 weeks, but was not received with full support.
According to Ms Burrow, a universal government funded scheme is long overdue and should be settled sooner rather than later. ‘Paid maternity leave is a foundation for making sure that women can remain in the workforce and can do so with the dignity that their income will be stabilised for at least a minimum period,’ she said.
‘While 81 per cent of women want paid maternity leave, only one third has access to it at present.’
She is pushing for a 14-week minimum leave period, based on a formal recommendation of the World Health Organisation.
John Stevens, CEO of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia, said he strongly supports a maternity leave scheme but only if the government is willing to bear the cost.
‘Fourteen weeks of pay to parents without productive return has a great impact on small businesses,’ he said. ‘It is therefore very important to us that the government steps in and provides a minimum wage paid maternity scheme. With well run economic structures in place this should be retained for the future while valuing the parenting input into our society,’ Mr Stevens said.
Lobbyist Eva Cox welcomed the unified approach of the ACTU and the business community, but was not in full support of the length of time proposed. ‘Let’s get 14 weeks into the system and then we can make adjustments,’ Ms Cox said.
The Federal Government recently announced a Productivity Commission Inquiry to investigate the economic and social costs, as well as benefits of providing paid maternity leave.
While some unions are campaigning for 26 weeks of leave, Ms Burrow said that submissions should always ask for 14 weeks as a minimum. ‘This time it’s no longer about a model but to agree on a concept,’ she said.