Parental leave scheme passed

The federal parliament has passed the government's paid parental leave scheme - which will give mothers 18 weeks of paid maternity leave following the birth of a child.
PROVIDED that is, they pass the 'work test' of having been in the paid work force for 10 of the previous 13 months.

We believe all mothers should be treated equally - rather than mothers who are in paid employment getting MORE benefits than those who are unwaged and are at home caring for children. Whilst most first-time mothers might get the payment as they are more likely to be working, this scheme will 'encourage' women to quickly return to the workforce after the birth of their first child in order to qualify for the parental leave payment for their second or third child. We say that paid parental leave schemes are flawed.

To read the Parental Leave Bill, click here.

The Opposition supported the Bill - whilst making noises about how THEY would give even MORE money to mothers in the paid work force - but they've been very quiet so far on HOW they plan to look after mums who stay at home.

We congratulate Senator Steve Fielding for moving amendments to the Bill
He proposed that the scheme be extended to include ALL mothers - that was defeated.

He also moved an amendment to close the loophole regarding payments following a stillbirth - he wanted to ensure that women who had a late term abortion for SOCIAL reasons could not claim the parental leave payment. The government said there wasn't a loophole - the Opposition wouldn't support him. The amendment was defeated...

What's the story?

There was found to be a recognised LOOPHOLE in the baby bonus payments - which meant that people having a late term ABORTION for SOCIAL reasons could still claim the baby bonus.

When Senator Cory Bernardi raised the matter, ALP Families Minister Jenny Macklin said, in August 2008, that she would close the loophole.

The legislation, the Family Assistance Act, referred to the baby bonus being paid for a stillborn child where stillborn was defined in the Act as 'over 400 g or over 20 weeks gestation, who has not breathed since delivery; and whose heart has not beaten since delivery'.

The government's solution?

To include on the form the requirement that a baby be "delivered".

That DOESN'T close the loophole.
Even the AMA has said there could still be confusion. Read the latest report on this - click here. 

So what does the Parental Leave Bill say?

It allows payments for stillborn babies and has the SAME definition of 'stillborn'.

Read the Bill - click here.  

So the SAME loophole - as acknowledged by Macklin and the government - exists in the current Bill.
There isn't even an attempt to close the loophole - there is no mention of the word 'delivery' in this context.
 

THAT's what Steve Fielding's amendment was about - ensuring that abortions for social reasons could not gain the parental leave payment.

For the government to say the loophole wasn't there doesn't hold water!
And it's a shame the Coalition didn't support the amendment. It's even more of a shame that some of them criticised Senator Fielding for his amendment.