Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I would urge those on the other side to listen to academic and feminist Eva Cox and acknowledge that what she is saying is indeed true. We need to normalise women as employees in the workforce and as mothers, and this Paid Parental Leave scheme will go a long way towards doing that.

I acknowledge that this has been the Prime Minister's passion. I also acknowledge that, in the light of a tough budget and a difficult circumstance that we have inherited, he has looked at the scheme and been prepared to make some concessions. I acknowledge him for that. Sadly, we are all being asked to help fix the debt and deficit disaster that was left us by those opposite in the Labor Party.

I remind the House again that this Paid Parental Leave scheme will benefit, most of all, low- and middle-income mums. It will help small business employers. It is a productivity measure, not a welfare measure. It is indeed a workplace entitlement. Just in the same way that I receive my superannuation and, when I go on annual leave, I received the same entitlement as my wage, the same measures should apply if somebody chooses to go and have a family.

This is good for Australia. It is a matter of equity in the 21st century. It is good for working women. It is good for babies. We know that. The data shows that. It is good for small business employers. It is good for families. Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, I acknowledge also that you understand very well how important families are to a cohesive society. But most of all this is good for Australia. It is about our ability as a nation to have people in paid employ to be able to pay, and to pay sustainably, for the services that we all expect to receive from government in the future. I urge those on both sides of this place to support this bill before the House today.

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