United Voice News
Productivity Commission public enquiry into parental leave
LHMU National Secretary, Louise Tarrant, told Tuesday’s Productivity Commission hearing on parental leave in Sydney that paid parental leave is an economic necessity for Australian women.
Tarrant says “Without some form of income support for women around the time of the birth of their children women will be an economic underclass for the rest of their lives.”
Casino worker and LHMU member Sharon Eulings spoke to the Commission of her experiences balancing work and family commitments, making a powerful argument for the introduction of paid maternity leave.
She told the Commission about the tag team of carers who look after her two young children each week (Sharon, her husband, mother and mother-in-law) and of the monumental effort that goes into meeting the children’s needs and the family’s financial commitments.
Sharon has had to forego career progression because a promotion would mean losing her shift arrangements, something she can’t afford to do because of the patchwork of carers looking after her children.
The LHMU will be submitting a formal submission to the enquiry.
Listen to Louise Tarrant speak about maternity leave on the ABC Radio National Breakfast program
