Stop cuts to working parents' time to care

UPDATE - GREAT NEWS: After two years of powerful campaigning by Fair Agenda members and other concerned community members, the cuts to paid parental leave have been taken out of the federal budget. It's a really important reprieve for the tens of thousands of working families who stood to lose precious time to care if these cuts had gone ahead.

But - the fight may not be over. If the Government have shown us anything over the past two years, it's that they don't give up on these cuts easily -- so Fair Agenda will keep a watching brief on this issue.

But right now, Fair Agenda's work to secure an election commitment from the Nick Xenophon Team - and to hold them to account for that promise - are the key factor that are stopping these cuts going ahead. So thank you to all those Fair Agenda members who made calls, sent emails, met with their Senators, helped secure election commitments, and funded research to help stop these cuts. You can read more about the impact of our campaigning together here.

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The Turnbull Government have just announced their *fourth* attempt to cut our paid parental leave system. They're trying to sell this new proposal as a boost for parents; but in reality they're making a boost for some parents entirely contingent on cutting the time tens of thousands of other working parents can afford to spend caring for their newborns, and planning on stripping $750 million from the system overall.

It's a proposal that would pit working parents against each other, and drag our system backwards. It would also cap the total combined leave available to eligible parents at 20 weeks -- well below the 26 weeks postnatal leave experts recommend for health and welfare outcomes.

The fate of these cuts will be decided by the Senate crossbench, with The Nick Xenophon Team expected to have the critical casting votes. Community campaigning has stopped the Turnbull Government from getting their plans to cut paid parental leave through the previous parliament. 

It's critical we show the Senate crossbench that the community oppose these cuts; and want them to stop these cruel cuts to new families. Can you sign the petition to join the campaign?

Find out more about the new cuts

Experts say that 26 weeks post-natal leave is the minimum needed for health and welfare reasons.

Right now, any eligible parent can access 18 weeks of leave at the minimum wage, and then top that up with any leave they’ve negotiated into their employment contract, to cover costs while they care for their newborn.

The system was designed to be used in combination; to allow more women to access the recommended 26+ weeks leave. For many women, the leave negotiated into their employment agreement has been bargained in lieu of additional pay or other leave provisions. 

In their latest proposal the Government is once again trying to punish these women – by cutting their access to government leave if they want to access the employer leave they’ve negotiated. It means that instead of acting as a floor, the period of government provided leave would instead becomes a ceiling.

To be clear, there are some positive aspects of this latest proposal:

  • The amount of government provided leave would be increased from 18 to 20 weeks at the minimum wage (still well below the 26 weeks recommended by experts). This would be good news for working parents without access to employer leave.
  • A change in the ‘activity test’ that determines would also see an increase in the number of parents eligible to access parental leave. And if these increases were all that was on the table – it would be good news...
  • But both these changes would both be contingent on cutting the leave available for 72,000 other families.  

In short, the crux of this proposal is still a cut. One that’s estimated to tear $600-$750 million out of the parental leave system, and to slash the amount of time thousands of workers like nurses, retail workers and ambos can afford to spend caring for their newborn. In fact, it’s estimated that under this new proposal 68,000 families with a median income of $62,000 a year would lose an average of $5,600.[2]

 

-Find out more -

1. Is this the winning compromise on paid parental leave, Women’s Agenda, 21 November 2016.

2. Samantha Maiden: Breakthrough looms on parental leave pay, Daily Telegraph, 20 November 2016.

Paid parental leave: Nick Xenophon warned not to pit working mums against each other, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 November 2016. 

29,038 SIGNATURES

It's hard enough caring for a newborn without being forced back to work early. Please don't cut working parents' right to the existing 18 weeks government paid parental leave. 

Signed,

Fair Agenda will email petition signers from time to time with important updates

* required fields

Latest activity

Carla , 4870  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:35:29 +1000
"I currently plan to start a family in the next two years. My partner and I work full time and will be relying on the ppl scheme along with my employers leave, long service leave etc to get us through this life changing event. After a year off I plan to return back full time and will be relying on child care.

Working mothers need support. With support we pay taxes, child care, cleaners, cooks at take aways, lawn care etc. we pay for extra services which creates further employment and taxes. Why panelize those who need support to take time out to then return back when the baby is older to help the economy. Australia needs more working families!!!"
Karina , 4018  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:35:16 +1000
Kathryn , 2480  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:35:03 +1000
"i have a young family and plan to have another babe in the next year or so. The question of how we can afford to do this is important to us in our planning and this suggested budget cut would make it very difficult for me to have a baby and have a year at home on maternity leave with the new babe. This is such an important stage in a child’s development and it would be a shame for kids to miss out on this attachment time with their primary carer."
Catherine , 4075  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:34:46 +1000
"The Government funded 18 week scheme was designed to complement existing paid parental leave provided through employment."
Megan , 4680  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:34:19 +1000
Kay , 5052  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:34:18 +1000
Amber , 4551  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:33:48 +1000
Jess , 7140  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:33:44 +1000
"I’m 16 weeks pregnant and was also relying on the 18 weeks paid parental leave as part of my maternity leave to allow me some extra some before my first baby is born. My husband and I are already stressed about money, so this on top of that will be hard to swallow! Fingers crossed it’s not approved."
Lesha , 3825  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:33:24 +1000
"yoy want/need to spend as much time as possible with your babies when they are at such a young fragile age, and this payment helps keep you home for a bit longer by providing enough money to cover some bills"
Michael , 2076  /  signed 2015-05-11 07:33:09 +1000
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