The Rudd Government’s announcement that it will push ahead with paid maternity leave along the lines proposed by the Productivity Commission is an historic breakthrough.
This was a big issue (along with childcare) when I had my first child nearly 23 years ago and it’s a little surreal to think that it has taken this long to get anywhere. Well. we’re not there yet. We have to hope the Rudd Government doesn’t defer on this one because of changed economic conditions, budgetary constraints yada yada yada.
Universal schemes like paid maternity leave that provide every citizen with access to a decent minimum wage and access to key ’social wage’ type services (health care, education, superannuation etc) are the key attributes of a civilised society. Hacking into those minimums might improve economic efficiency (but not by much) nevertheless the cost in damage to the social fabric is enormous.
Belief in the importance of these minimums has become a key ideological fissure in our society, perhaps the only one left. The public reaction against Workchoices was more about maintaining a decent minimum wage and level of job security then it was about collective bargaining and the role of unions. The conservatives wasted 20 years trying to destroy universal health care until Howard tossed in the towel in 1996. And the battle to reach the 15% contribution target for superannuation goes on.
Turnbull would be mad to waste too much time and political energy opposing a new national maternity leave scheme. Next up? Universal access to quality childcare anyone?
