[maryanneK]

hi everyone.
I'm sure lots of you know about the coalition's plans to introduce paid maternity leave for six months at full salary. Now I personally think its a terrible policy - why should taxpayers be handing out up to $75,000 for wealthy women for maternity leave when they could easily afford it themselves?
However, as I'm currently 6w pregnant I could personally stand to benefit very handsomely from this! I'm on a pretty good salary, but my work has no paid maternity leave at all. I would absolutely LOVE to have 6 months fully paid maternity leave! I wouldn't vote liberal but there's a definite personal upside for me if they win.
does anyone know when they'd be planning on introducing it? Election is sept 14th and I'm due early October....guess that would be unlikely, right?!

[nano-tyrannus]

Now I personally think its a terrible policy - why should taxpayers be handing out up to $75,000 for wealthy women for maternity leave when they could easily afford it themselves?

Labor's scheme is funded by taxpayers... The coalition's is by a levy:

The Coalition’s Paid Parental Leave scheme is funded by a 1.5 percent levy on companies with

taxable incomes in excess of $5 million. This will apply only to taxable income in excess of $5 million.

The levy will affect approximately 3,370 out of 770,000 companies in Australia. From 2013-14, all

companies will receive the benefit of a 1.5 precentage point reduction in the company tax rate.

The Coalition would prefer to fund our Paid Parental Leave scheme from a Budget surplus, but this

is not possible due to the large debt and deficits run up by the Labor Government. Labor’s debt and

deficits mean that funding the Coalition’s Paid Parental Leave scheme through a levy of 1.5 percent

on a relatively small number of larger companies is the only way for Australia to achieve a decent

Paid Parental Leave scheme in the near future. Once the Budget position has been restored we will

reduce the levy and eventually abolish it entirely.

You'll probably have to wait... the above text was from the 2010 election, and that policy was meant to come into place in July 2012 subject to the passage of legislation...

[FluffyOscar]

As if Tony Abbott would actually do anything re paid maternity leave. You're a sucker if you believe him.

[nlman]

As if Tony Abbott would actually do anything re paid maternity leave. You're a sucker if you believe him.

I'm guessing if/when he is elected he will say that he would love to do it, but the economy just isn't up to it

[InsertAwesomeHer...]

As if Tony Abbott would actually do anything re paid maternity leave. You're a sucker if you believe him.

I think i will cry if he gets in.

[cira]

The Coalition’s Paid Parental Leave scheme is funded by a 1.5 percent levy on companies with
taxable incomes in excess of $5 million. This will apply only to taxable income in excess of $5 million.
The levy will affect approximately 3,370 out of 770,000 companies in Australia.

How could a levy on just 3,370 companies possibly fund the scheme - I think this scheme is an election myth that would disappear shortly after the elections.

[Eight.years]

I'm on the 'never' team too. It's not costed properly and would require the government to kick in.

People in NSW and QLD can vouch for Liberal governments that start with 'well sure we promised, but it turns out the budget was in a worse state than we realised'. (due to what, exactly? Not paying attention before it was their responsibility? Pulling figures that suited them out of their backsides prior to the election?) And the whole idea of a 'non core promise' is pretty much enshrined in Liberal culture.

This post has been edited by Eight.years: 05/02/2013, 09:13 PM

[Katie_bella]

The lies grand statements made prior to an election, to make people vote for whomever is making said grand statements

Let the election fun begin!

[Pooks*potters]

Firstly, I oppose the scheme completely as middle class welfare gone mad. Secondly, I don't believe it would happen. Thirdly, if it did happen, I could only see it happening through completely scrapping other payments. Fourthly, how is this ok but mining tax isn't? Fifthly, ahhhhhh *runs*

[Bek+3]

People in NSW and QLD can vouch for Liberal governments that start with 'well sure we promised, but it turns out the budget was in a worse state than we realised'. (due to what, exactly? Not paying attention before it was their responsibility? Pulling figures that suited them out of their backsides prior to the election?) And the whole idea of a 'non core promise' is pretty much enshrined in Liberal culture.

Yes.