Parental Leave

With the federal government planning to introduce legislation for a paid parental leave scheme in the next session of parliament, Federation is seeking improvements to the scheme announced by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last year.

Under Kevin Rudd's proposal, working women would receive:

• 18 weeks at the minimum wage of $544 per week
• no payment of superannuation contributions.

The scheme would be paid for out of general revenue.

On International Women's Day, the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced his own scheme under which working women would receive:

• 26 weeks full pay up to an annual income of $150,000
• payment of superannuation entitlements.

The scheme would be paid for by a tax levy on Australia's biggest earning companies.

Tony Abbott's proposal is welcomed because it is consistent with elements of Federation policy which calls for "increases in employer provided paid parental leave to at least World Health Organisation standard of 26 weeks" and "payment of superannuation contributions to be made on paid parental leave", however, concerns about the capacity to implement this proposal remain.

Teachers are urged to lobby federal politicians in support of improvements in paid parental leave.

The draft letter provided can be used to send a message to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, and your local MP.

The "Protest Letter" can be used to send emails to Tony Abbott and most Members of The House of Representatives. To write to Kevin Rudd, open and copy the "Draft Letter" and paste it into the webform on the Prime Minister's website.

Draft letter to Members of Parliament

Prime Minister's website