Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to the 80,000 women affected by the government's cuts to paid parental leave and attacks on them by senior ministers, who have described them as 'rorters' and 'frauds'. Does the minister agree with the learned senator from New South Wales, Senator Sinodinos, who said:

It's not a good look to be having a go at the young mothers or new mothers …

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not accept that any of my colleagues have referred to women in that way. I agree with Senator Sinodinos that we should treat young mothers with respect.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to comments by the Minister for Communication, Mr Turnbull, who said it is very important that the government 'respect and show due empathy' for families and mothers. Minister, considering that it is a matter of fact that senior members of your government and your cabinet have used the word 'rorters' and the word 'frauds' to describe these mothers, is that showing due respect— (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting —

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order on my right! Minister, there was not a complete question there, but I invite you to answer.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I know what Senator Dastyari is trying to get at. Let me just say that I do not accept the premise of the question and I agree with the sentiments expressed by Mr Turnbull.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, are there many families like my own, who benefited from two schemes, so that new mothers could spend as much time as they can with their children—people who have 'rorted' or 'defrauded' the system? If so, have any coalition MPs, including the minister himself, also benefitted from current arrangements?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has decided that given that most women can have access to only one scheme, whereas some women can have access to two schemes—a more generous scheme through their private or public sector employer—in those circumstances where women can have access to a more generous scheme through their private or public sector employer, in the current circumstances we are in it is not appropriate to expect the taxpayer to fund a second scheme.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Senator Collins!

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In response to the personal question that Senator Dastyari has chosen to ask me, let me confirm for him that I indeed had a little child, in 2013, and that our family, of course, worked within the system that was available at the time, like any other family. My family will work within whatever system is in place in the future.