Paid Parental Leave

THIS CAMPAIGN IS CLOSED

Paid Parental Leave is finally within reach for millions of Australian families, with details of the draft bill being released.

Australian families and women in particular are counting on this scheme being in place on January 1 next year. The PPL scheme will lay a solid foundation for all working parents, but the ACTU and unions also believe that employers should contribute to workers’ superannuation during the period of paid parental leave.Women’s retirement savings sit at a notoriously lower level than men’s, and this measure would help bridge the gap.

This is an important reform in the way we help women especially to handle work and family commitments at an emotionally and often financially stressful time. Mr Abbott’s declared tactic of opposing legislation for the sake of it has got many women worried that paid parental leave is about to hit the Senate scrapheap.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow has called on Opposition leader Tony Abbott not to block the bill and urged business lobby groups to support the scheme of 18 weeks universal taxpayer- funded leave.

We need your help to keep the pressure on Mr Abbott and the Liberals to ensure this important reform passes through parliament. The scheme is long overdue, with unions and members leading the campaign for the last 30 years.

Please sign the electronic petition and share it with your friends, family and co-workers.

You can also download a copy of the petition to collect more signatures.

Remember to return completed petitions to:
G. Baggio, Paid Parental Leave Campaign, ACTU Level 6, 365 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000 by 26 May 2010