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Who pays for maternity leave?

May 06 08:53am

The government is talking about adding an extra cost to pay packets to afford paid maternity leave.

Having children benefits the whole community, but when the government has $15billion in the bank, and we're already one of the highest taxed nations, should they find the money somewhere else?

Australia and the US remain the only OECD countries without publicly funded maternity leave.

Do you support maternity leave and if so, where should the money come from?
Tell us below...

UPDATE: The Sunrise phone poll this morning showed 92% of Sunrise viewers who responded were not willing to pay for a Maternity Leave scheme.

On seeing the clear response of Sunrise viewers to this debate, Marie Claire's Jackie Frank expressed outrage; "People spend more than that on cigarettes and alcohol! I am shocked and disappointed," Jackie said.

ACTU defnds Maternity Leave following Sunrise poll

89 Comments Report Abuse

1. extensiblecow - May 06 09:04am

I sort of can see the carrot for this; to encourage population growth for what in the next 50 years(?). But I feel this penalises those who are single, or childless. Who will look after them then? We should then make the kids of the baby boomers pay levy to look after the singles and childless?

2. extensiblecow - May 06 09:06am

What about the singles and childless? Who will look after them? The kids of the baby boomers? No, we should not be paying a levy for those who choose to have babies - it's a personal choice. I'm already paying enough taxes in this high interest rate economy to feed the bludgers of Centrelink!

3. beverleyflemming - May 06 09:14am

I am a working mother and have worked all my life. I have three children. I often work up to an 80 hour week between two jobs and receive no government payments at all. I feel I am doing my bit for the economy and resent ANOTHER levy or tax coming out of my wages.

4. leaps2006 - May 06 09:18am

I think we pay enough taxes, increasing food prices, petrol and high interest rates but our wages don't go up with everything else. Aren't we paying enough out of our pockets to live?

5. leisaevans80 - May 06 09:26am

I am one of the single, childless workers who will pay for this scheme. I already pick up the slack for mothers going on maternity leave then coming back 6 to 12 months later and slotting back into their original position but then not doing the job they are supposed to do. When will it be fair

6. skye_heights - May 06 09:56am

I saved up my annual leave for maternity leave, took it at half pay and doubled my time off, another 2 months leave was unpaid and we had saved up for this. We did this 3 times with no family benefits and no baby bonus and our income wasn't fantastic either. It's a gimme gimme more world now.

7. lerineller - May 06 09:58am

I had 3chn without ANY maternity leave at a time when it was financially and emotionally conducive to my husband and I. When it was time to go back to work I got off my ar$%^& and found a job that 'fitted'. Maternity leave? a dirty word with some on it 4yrs plus-on and off

8. lerineller - May 06 10:01am

Paid maternity leave will force even more small business people out of the market. If the Government wants everyone to have access then they need to provide it. What about waiting periods? You can't job-hop and expect the last poor damn employer to pick up the tab.

9. lerineller - May 06 10:06am

YES as a contribution, not as a blanket tax. You want paid leave? then plan for it. ALL new workers pay into a Baby Fund, same as Super, and when they need Maternity Leave they withdraw from this fund, maybe Govt could match $for$. If they never draw from it, or their balance converts to Super.

10. stilgoedi - May 06 10:24am

I had 2 children and it was expected that you stayed home to look after your children and the husband supported the family do you really want your husband home for 4 weeks with you learning to be a mother I think you need to be more organized and not expected to be handed money for having a baby.

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