How to organise paid parental leaveGot a small business and suddenly realising you’re not prepared for the paid parental leave scheme kicking in on Jan 1, 2011? The government pays but you have the paperwork. Start Up Smart tells you all you need to know.
Paid parental leave
Parental leave: Tony still doesn’t get it
Paid parental leave a flagship for the message that Tony Abbott has changed his views on women but there is little other evidence for a serious shift in his policies.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: How about common decency for religion?
Crikey readers weigh in on Abbott’s religious views, Gillard’s stance on paid parental leave, Shane Maloney’s Marginalia series and ABC News 24.
Leaks tarnish Gillard’s shine
Daily Media Wrap Another night, another Laurie Oakes bombshell. Last night the Nine Network stalwart revealed the allegation that Julia Gillard opposed the government’s paid parental leave and a rise to the pension during cabinet meetings when she was deputy.
Parental leave: revolution it ain’t
As a long term activist I am pleased we have something and the support of both major parties for the concept of paid parental leave. But in the end, some women will gain nothing.
Vote Last Steve Fielding
Steve Fielding’s buffoonery in the paid parental leave debate has given way to something altogether more offensive. Labor has a special responsibility to put him last this election.
Rudd on a baby kissing spree
Daily Media Wrap: Kevin Rudd’s leadership may be in doubt, but his baby kissing ability remains strong, judging by his showing yesterday at his paid parental leave scheme spruik.
How to discourage more mothers from combining work and family
Despite the Henry Review suggesting increased workforce participation for mothers of young children was crucial, the government and opposition are giving anti signals.
Selling us our own money
Government advertising is very good at ignoring the grey areas, like perhaps the legislation hasn’t actually been passed yet. Didn’t Rudd promise to cut down on this spending? asks Katharine Murphy.
Stott Despoja: It’s been a very long pregnant pause for mothers
Eight years ago, former senator Natasha Stott Despoja proposed paid parental leave and was met with opposition from both sides. Times are a-changing, but not quick enough.
Cassidy: Bursting Abbott’s thought bubbles
Tony Abbott is an expert in distraction, dangling the tasty “no dole for under 30s” lollipop in front of us just as Kevin Rudd’s historic health reform deal has been passed. Except, the distractions don’t detract from Rudd’s clever deal, says Barrie Cassidy.
Irvine: Good childcare = more working women? Duh…
We need to stop wasting our women workers, mothers who want to work but won’t because of expensive and poor quality childcare. Perhaps if we had more senior government women, we’d already have this by now, writes Jessica Irvine.
Abbott ducks Costello’s punch
Yesterday, Peter Costello let rip at Tony Abbott’s paid paternal leave plan, comparing him to a gung-ho Crocodile Dundee. Surprise, surprise the Liberals weren’t too impressed. But what are the pundits saying?
Costello: Abbott’s parental leave plan is a race to the bottom
Former treasurer and couldabeenacontenda Peter Costello savages Tony Abbott and his paid parental leave scheme in an op-ed for today’s SMAge: it’s all just a big pissing contest with Rudd.
Mungo MacCallum: Much to criticise in Abbott’s policies, but he deserves some sympathy
Tony Abbott’s parental leave policy may be a disaster, but not for the reasons being trumpeted by the government and the media. He is being pilloried not for a matter of substance, but for having the courage to defy one of Australia’s more mindless political shibboleths.
Why is equity relevant to paid parental leave?
Health policy consultant Jennifer Doggett weighs in on the paid parental leave debate, arguing that the potential benefits of paid parental leave may outweigh any concerns about it being inequitable.
Stott Despoja: Winning Senate friends and influencing cross-bench people
Publicly attacking Senators who block government plans is a fairly novel way of winning their support, when all they need is a bit of charming, explains former senator Natasha Stott Despoja.
Grattan: Abbott performs a double backflip
Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave plan popped up without the knowledge of his colleagues or business. Now he’s juggling his credibility with his contradictions, writes Michelle Grattan.
Abbott’s parental leave scheme takes aim at … his own party base
It’s not the Liberal Party’s big corporate donors that are the real target of Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave proposal — it’s the party base membership.
The Coalition doesn’t care about working women
Abbott’s paid parental leave plan may be aimed at winning over women voters, but really it just entrenches existing inequalities for working women. Plus, the Libs don’t care about equal pay, writes Mark Bahnisch.
Megalogenis: The flawed economics of Abbott’s parental leave policy
Tony Abbott’s new paid parental leave plan is completely self-defeating, explains George Megalogenis: you can’t give everyone a new right, but ask only a tiny fraction of the population to pay for it.
Question without notice to Abbott: what about parental leave?
Questions for Tony Abbott: when the Government brings its parental leave legislation into Parliament, will you support it? Will coalition senators allow the legislation through, so women can plan their next year’s birth possibilities?
Abbott needs to get his policy process in order
There are worrying signs that the Opposition’s policy process isn’t working well, particularly when Tony Abbott insists on doing things Rudd-style.
Bolt: 13 reasons Abbott’s maternity plan is plain dumb
Paid paternity leave, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways, says Andrew Bolt: Abbott has broken promises, is punishing the poor, didn’t consult his party, and, worst of all, has ruined his own “great big new tax” line.
Nanny Abbott gives birth to a national debate
Daily media round-up: Tony Abbott sure knows how to get the nation talking: his controversial paid parental leave plan has given birth to a 10-pound screaming, crying bundle of red-faced commentary and debate.
