trade>"More middle-class welfare."

As opposed to upper-class welfare proposed by the right? You know trade that both sides have such flaws, but in different areas. These people and ideas should be rooted out of our governing class.

I'm amazed that there are people out there that think this Labor government is a leftie.

Another aspect of having babies is the baby bonus. At the moment I believe the baby bonus is given to anyone who has a baby and is not means tested. I can't see the need for those who can afford a baby to be paid a baby bonus on top of paid maternity leave (if they are working).

I also believe that the baby bonus should be paid once only to enable a family to prepare for parenting but once that is done the cots and baby bottles etc can be re-used for any subsequent children.

The baby bonus was implemented to encourage families to have more children (Peter Costello's one for each parent and one for the country comment). This was unbelievably short sighted and takes no account of the importance of sustainability.

I mention the baby bonus in light of this article because it is relevant to how we need to re-examine some of the policies surrounding families and children.

A "payment to mums" is such a ridiculous crock, it is difficult to know where to start.

Small business, which forms the backbone of Australia's economy, is already under siege from a constant stream of know-nothing politicians piling on endless red tape, iniquitous taxes, interfering bureaucracy. This is yet another potentially back-breaking burden.

(Yes, Boaz, I am right behind you on this.)

The moves by businesses such as Myer are 100% self-serving, and conducted in the full knowledge that if such laws were to come into effect, it would drive even more business away from small companies, who would become less competitive, and into their stores.

Six weeks paid leave, which is what they are offering, is way, way less than it costs them to hire and train a new recruit, so it is their way of making an investment in the percentage of those who might return.

For small companies, the relative costs are astronomical. Let's assume that 10% of women at Myer take advantage of the payment. That's noise. Now consider the impact on a three-person business, and the cost of replacing just one employee.

What will happen, of course, is that no sensible small business manager can afford to consider employing women of child-bearing age. And that's half of Australia's industry, closed to them in an instant.

Traditionally, the drop from two to one salaries when children arrived triggered a change in lifestyle, not a serial whinge that the government should pay for your home cinema.

1. According to Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2000, Article 33, Family and professional life
1. The family shall enjoy legal, economic and social protection.
2. To reconcile family and professional life, everyone shall have the right to protection from dismissal for a reason connected with maternity and the right to paid maternity leave and to parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

The minimum paid maternity leave in European Union is 14 weeks, but it is much longer in most European countries.

The top 5 countries with the best paid maternity leave are the following
Sweden 480 days 68.5 weeks (80% up to a ceiling the first 390 days, 90 days at flat rate)
Norway 54 weeks (12.5 months) (80%) or 44 weeks (10 months) (100%)
Hungary 24 weeks 100%
Italy 22 weeks (80%)
Chile 18 weeks 100%
The top 5 countries with the worst paid maternity leave are the following:
United States 0 weeks
Australia 0 weeks
Tunisia 30 days (approx. 4 weeks) 67%
Bahrain 45 days (approx. 6.5 weeks) paid 100%
Egypt 50 days (approx. 7 weeks) 100%
NO COMMENTS, AS AUSTRALIAN I FEEL SHAME!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

When I say The minimum paid maternity leave is 100%, 80%, 67% etc I mean % on their basic wages, salary,( not on overtime or other special benefits )
Hungary 24 weeks 100%
Italy 22 weeks (80%)
Tunisia 30 days (approx. 4 weeks) 67%
etc
Antonios Symeonakis

Dear Antonios....

you forgot one vital piece of information.

WHO PAYS for it? Government or..the individual company?

That is err..rather vital in assessing this issue.

(Yes Pericles, duely noted)