First the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced that, if elected to government on 21 August, he would introduce a paid parental leave scheme which was very different from the Gillard Government scheme which commences next January.
His scheme would provide mothers with 26 weeks paid parental leave, at full replacement wage (up to a maximum salary of $150,000 per annum) or the Federal Minimum Wage, whichever is greater and, include superannuation contributions.
All of this to be paid by a 1.7 per cent levy on business with annual taxable incomes in excess of $5 million.
Well, the scheme entrenches income inequality (because not every woman will have $1,500 to $2,000 or so in the weekly take-home pay packet) but it probably passed muster with many voters because the taxpayer was not paying these wages. But wait.......
Now we find out that the scheme will be funded by a 1.5 per cent levy on business (offset by a 1.5 per cent company tax cut) and, an estimated $100 million annually from taxpayers will supplement public service 26 week paid parental leave - all starting on 1 July 2012.
Still, what's a hundred million between friends. Think of the dear babies. But wait there's more......
The levy on business is designed to cut out and all paid parental leave under his scheme will be funded from the Budget by 1 July 2013 according to Abbott.
Er, now doesn't that look suspiciously like Abbott's paid parental leave scheme will always be fully funded by the taxpayer after that first year?
How do you feel about paying some women over a thousand dollars a week (plus super contributions) to stay home with their babies, while your own children or grandchildren do without essential services/infrastructure in rural and regional Australia?
No comments:
Post a Comment