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Push It - Paid maternity leave

Jun 15 04:36pm

THANK YOU to everyone who braved the rain to attend marie claire's rally for paid maternity leave on June 14.

More than 300 people attended the PUSH IT rally, with 1500 readers also registering their support online.

The crowd was kept energised by mc Bianca Dye, of Nova 96.9, while Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, NSW Minister for Women Verity Firth and CE of Mission Australia Toby Hall all spoke about the importance of introducing paid maternity leave.

To see photographs of the event, click here.

Meanwhile, on June 14, the Greens and Democrats put a motion to the Senate expressing support for marie claire's rally and the introduction of paid maternity leave. However, the motion was voted down by the Coalition, Labor and Family First.

35 Comments Report Abuse

1. mountainsofblue - May 15 02:29pm

Too late for me! but I'd like to support everyone else (particularly my daughter should she choose to have a child/children, and any prospective future daughters in law): united we stand...

2. davnel67 - May 15 06:32pm

Would Love paid maternity leave. But where does the funding come from, employer or govt. I run a small business and honestly could not afford to pay for it. What are the options for small business

3. tracy_k24 - May 15 06:54pm

Paid Maternity Leave? Why? Having a child is a choice. You choose whether you want to, you choose whether you can afford it. Forcing workplaces to provide paid maternity leave makes employers reluctant to employ women of child bearing age, so those of us who choose not to have children are the ones that suffer. If more couples planned financially for a family BEFORE they actually got pregnant, this country and it's children would be better off.

4. cls272 - May 15 08:25pm

Although it would be great to have I don't believe it is fair to expect employers to have to pay for time off to have a baby. I think we're lucky enough for employers to have to hold our jobs and employ someone else for that short time.

5. loujordan1976 - May 15 09:15pm

As a school teacher I am entitled to 14 weeks full paid maternity leave and am able to take leave without pay until my child turns two. On return to work I am able to work part time until my child goes to school. If the department of education can provide this for school teachers why can't all employers? I have heaps of friends who have had to quit their jobs or wait until they had long service leave before being able to start a family.

6. tracy_k24 - May 15 11:15pm

All employers don't have the budget of the governement, or the availability of already-trained replacement staff....

7. charlieaarons - May 16 10:29am

Good on you Marie Claire for being pro active in this campaign.
Women and families should not be penalised for having babies - they are after all the work force of the future.

8. fionabap - May 16 11:24am

I work for a firm that provides 8 weeks paid maternity leave, a global womens network and endorsement of flexible working arrangements (not just for mothers). As a highly specialised global organisation we understand and monitor the $ value of a diverse workplace. Diversity is endorsed from CEO level down. We see an improved speed of women returning to the workforce due to company and Govt support, increased productivity when flexible working hours are introduced, improved loyalty, less loss o

9. xolisamkele - May 18 11:05pm

I am not Australian, but I would like to voice my support for the cause.

10. marie_claire_moderator - May 23 10:27am

Thank you for your comments. To clarify, marie claire is calling for government-funded paid maternity leave. Most maternity schemes around the world are government-funded.

To find out more about this important issue, see marie claire's July issue. Alternatively, we would love to see you at our rally on June 14, 12.30, in Martin Place, Sydney.

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