Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

It's a real privilege to rise today to speak on the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024. I do so as a mother, as someone who has raised a family, as someone who faced the difficulties of running a family business, and as someone who was a mature-age student.

I want to start today by sharing a story about one experience I had as a mother, why that moment mattered for where I am today, and how that shapes my thinking on this bill. Our family farm was struggling to stay afloat, so I decided to go to university as a mature-age student. I did this so I could help my money and make ends meet. I still remember the first day I walked in to enrol in a Bachelor of Economics at La Trobe University in Wodonga. I kept thinking, 'Can I really do this?' I had a baby in a baby capsule, and I felt so out of place. I had different clothes to everyone else, I was older—I felt like an outsider. I remember being suffocated by self-doubt. There I stood, the mature-age student with a baby in a capsule, knowing I didn't really fit in. I thought, 'This really isn't for me,' so I picked up the capsule and I went to leave. But then, as I was about to leave, Dr Julie Jackson, vice-chancellor, popped out of her office, looked at me, picked up the capsule and said: 'Do you need help with that? Come on in.' That gave me the confidence to stay on that path, and that path set me to where I am today.

It is a story of women supporting women, yes, but it's also a story of barriers that stand in front of parents with young kids. If I didn't have that car or that capsule, I might never have even considered going back to university. To many Australians, these basic barriers stand in the way of important choices today—right here, right now. If you go into Baby Bunting today, you will see baby capsules that cost anywhere upwards of $500 or even $700. That's just one item. It's an important item, too; it gives mums and dads the capacity to travel safely with their little one. For many, that item means time with grandparents, but for others it's the difference between studying or working and finding needed support. For me, having that capsule meant that I was able to walk into that lecture theatre with Dr Julie Jackson. I use this example because, when we talk about supporting women, we have to face up to the fact that small barriers today can have big consequences for their futures. In the same way that those in big super like to argue, 'Super invested today will set you up for your retirement,' helping parents with their immediate cost-of-living pressures today helps them get set up for their lives. If I did not have the ability to travel with my baby to study as a working mum, I might've made different decisions.

Today, under the cost-of-living crisis that we are seeing, Australian parents are confronting difficult decisions every day. The fact is it has never been more expensive to raise a baby than today. That is before you get into the broader cost-of-living pain that is all too present. Australian families are making decisions about what sorts of items they can afford to help them with their newborn. They're having to buy a cheaper pram or a cheaper car capsule. They're second-guessing medical options or they're paying for things on credit. It's really tough for too many parents out there. When we were presented with this bill, we saw an opportunity to give parents a choice. We saw an opportunity to help set them up today or save for tomorrow.

The coalition supports the economic security of women and families, and we support this bill. But we call on the government and the crossbench to provide greater choice to families during this cost-of-living crisis. In line with that, we want families to have the choice to receive super on their government funded paid parental leave as this bill proposes, receive two-weeks additional paid parental leave of up to 26 weeks next financial year and 28 weeks the following financial year or receive a direct payment to eligible families to the value of the government's superannuation proposal to better help with the cost associated with their newborn child. In recognition of the fact that it has never been more expensive to raise a family than right now and in line with our commitment to support the choices of Australians, we are seeking to amend this bill to introduce more flexibility for paid parental leave. These are sound amendments that are good for parents and good for families.

So I say to Labor and the teals: our amendments are a test for you. Will you trust Australian parents to make choices for their own families or will you make the decisions for them? Will you deny Australian parents access to cost-of-living relief when they need it most? Will you choose ideology over pragmatism? I cannot speak for the teals' own personal lives, as they may or may not have had the experience I had when I was a young mum facing barriers to my own aspirations. But I say to the teals: today Australian mums are facing those barriers, and we should help them if we can. This is about giving women choices, and, if the teals truly back women, they will back our amendments and give women and parents choice and agency on this policy. So this is a litmus test for the teals. Are they going to back Australians to make choices about their own money or are they going to back the government and the Greens? I hope the litmus test comes up blue, not green.

Today, we remind the government that superannuation is not their money and it is not the superannuation industry's money; it is money that belongs to Australians. For young Australian families, they may need this money now more than ever. The coalition believes Australians should have that choice to use their superannuation entitlements to help them live their lives. Under the coalition's plan, should parents wish to direct their entitlements to super, they will be able to do so. Should they need immediate support with the costs of caring for their newborn baby, they have that choice too. Families are facing additional financial burdens due to this government's cost-of-living crisis, and the coalition will better support them to spend time with their newborns by providing choice.

The opposition will support this bill. But we know that young families are struggling with rising costs and need more money in their pockets now, and we will support them in this endeavour. I ask everyone in this place, in fact, to support our amendments and help Australian parents get ahead. I thank the House.

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