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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Thursday, 5 August 2004) . . Page.. 3574 ..

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (8.17): The opposition will be supporting this bill. This bill provides for an extension to exemptions from payroll tax for three types of leave: maternity leave, adoption leave and primary carer leave. Under the provisions in the bill, employers who provide their employees with these types of leave would be able to exclude from their payroll tax calculations the wages paid for people utilising these types of leave.

A key reason we support the exemption for these three types of leave is that people who take maternity, adoption or primary carer leave will be contributing to the strength of their families. It is important that we take as much action as we can to encourage the roles of parents and carers, and so achieve a better balance between home and work. I note that these provisions will not come into effect until 1 July 2005. This long lead time is good, as it enables employers to put the necessary arrangements in place prior to the exemptions commencing.

I did initially have some concerns about the impost the provision of this bill might establish. I have determined, however, that the actions necessary to put these measures in place should require relatively straightforward additions to existing payroll tax software. The impact on employers should therefore be minimal.

There is a small cost to revenue of around $150,000 a year. We agree that it is a small cost to bear, given the benefits that are available. However, with this enhancement to the balance between home and work, we may even achieve an increase in productivity through having more satisfied employees with resulting gains to turnover, profitability and taxation revenue.

We have become aware, since this bill was presented, of a need to clarify the provisions relating to part-time employees. As a result, I understand the government has prepared an amendment to this bill. As I noted a moment ago, we will be supporting the bill and we will be supporting the government’s amendment.

MS DUNDAS (8.19): The Democrats are strongly supportive of family friendly employment practices. A society that prevents women making the full contribution to our community and our economy does not make social or economic sense. At a federal level, the democrats have proposed a national paid maternity leave scheme as a way of better spreading the financial burden of child rearing.

Workers with families need more than paid leave. Parents also want secure part-time work; accessible, reasonably priced childcare; and flexibility in their jobs. But the democrats see a national system of paid maternity leave as integral to work and family policy.

It should also be pointed out that we see paid maternity leave as a workplace entitlement rather than a solution to the country’s declining fertility rate. Only about a third of Australian women have access to any form of paid maternity leave. Most are in the public sector or work for large employers. The chance to stay at home with a new baby should not be confined to the well paid or those who work in big workplaces. Paid maternity leave should be a right, not a privilege, for Australian working women.

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