Over 40 Tasmanian groups urge Jenny Macklin to put paid maternity leave in may budget - Tasmanian delegation visits the minister
The presentation: left to right: Kylee McCausland, Jenny Macklin, Nicole Wells, Ros Cornish, Lorna Barrett and Susan Holmes.
A delegation representing a coalition of over forty Tasmanian organisations travelled to Melbourne on Aril 30 th to present a joint statement on Paid Maternity Leave to Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The group urged the Minister to not delay the introduction of national paid maternity leave to help ease the pressure on families. The delegation included: Nicole Wells, a young mum and union organiser for CEPU, Lorna Barrett a working mum (of twins) representing the Multiple Birth Association of Tasmania (Southern District), Kylee McCausland, a young mum and school teacher, Ros Cornish who is CEO of Lady Gowrie in Tasmania and National Vice President of Early Childhood Australia and Tasmanian CEO of Relationships Australia, Susan Holmes.
This joint statement emerged from a community forum on paid maternity leave in October last year organised by Unions Tasmania Womens Committee. It has been signed by over 40 organisations representing thousands of Tasmanians. A petition with signatures from over 2000 Tasmanians has also been presented to Senator Carol Brown and she has delivered it to the Prime Minister's Office.
A government-funded paid maternity leave scheme is more important then ever with Australian families now facing great economic uncertainty in the wake of the global financial crisis. Such a scheme must be judged as a long term economic and social measure, the kind of important social infrastructure that will help retain as many jobs as possible in a tough climate and keep productivity on track. “It is vitally important that the recent recommendation of the Productivity Commission, that the Rudd Government introduce 18 weeks paid maternity leave for all Australian women, be included in the 2009 Federal Budget,” Nicole Wells said.
A recent Australia Institute report concluded that Australia could introduce a paid parental leave scheme that pays for itself, creates nearly 9,000 new jobs and boosts the economy. “There is every economic argument that it should be introduced now,” said Lorna Barrett. “M any families instantly lose one entire salary when a child is born. This loss of salary has proven more and more difficult for families to cope with. In the current climate, it's even tougher.”
“We see some families quite traumatised by having to put young babies into childcare so mum can keep her job. A national paid maternity leave scheme would really help ease this kind of pressure on families,” said Lady Gowrie CEO Ros Cornish.
“This is about jobs, careers and keeping women in the workforce. The support for national, government funded paid maternity leave is enormous and it has been inspiring working with a coalition of so many diverse groups,” said Nicole Wells. “ The group presented the case for paid parental leave passionately and clearly and the minister clearly understood all of the issues and the value of a Paid Parental Leave scheme. Between now and the announcement of the federal budget on May 12 th we just need to keep the pressure up.”
Authorised by Simon Cocker, Unions Tasmania 379 Elizabeth St North Hobart Tasmania 7000 - ph: 03 6234 9553 - site enquiries jprice@unionstas.com.au