UsualSuspect,
“feminists … it's best for them to have the man working full time and the mother at home full time”
What’s wrong with the idea that mothers and fathers should have equal economic, social, and political rights?
Once a baby is weaned there is no reason why both partners can’t combine a job and childcare. A modern workplace should be flexible enough to make it possible for both partners to work around a family.
Women, who want to return to the workforce, should be able to keep up their skills or it will be much harder for them to return to the workplace later.

BTW paid leave can be capped- I think the proposal is to pay minimum wages.

Rehctub,
“you want us, the future seniors of society to fund the lifestyle choices of the ones who choose to have children …”
No, you’ve missed reading some posts; we discussed different ways of funding paid leave.
To reiterate, I think is that it’s inevitable that Australia is going to catch up with the rest of the world with PML and later, Paid Parental Leave in the near future.
Economists have adviced that this will be good for our economy; I have not come across information by economists that it will harm the economy or families.
Why would I want to oppose an idea that not only works in almost all other countries, that is good for families and is good for the economy as well.

What I am not sure about is the best way to fund it; I’m not going to repeat it- read back for our thoughts on funding it.

Caring societies need to have effective safety nets or they’ll end up like corporate states like the collapsing USA. There, whole sections resemble the developing world and, I read, the economy has 3.2 million fewer jobs today than it did when George Bush took office.
Corporate States:

"The poor complain, they always do
But that's just idle chatter.
Our system brings rewards to all
At least, to all who matter."

- Gerry Helleiner

Continued

Australia neither needs to be a Socialist nor a Libertarian State, it needs to be a caring state where caring economics apply.

Col,
“LPG grants are paid regardless of gender.”
Parental leave is better than maternity leave and is also paid regardless of gender.

I do understand what you’re saying about grants vs. rights.
One does not exclude the other though- both have their place in a modern, wealthy country.

Thanks for addressing the rest, and I will when time allows, do a search on the good old Lord Chief Justice Denning. I don’t have much knowledge in that area, I must admit.

Just a quick note that we only have choices in what the corporate world decides they want to feed us. For example, the food industry. Try to find a box of cereal for a child that does not contain sugar. That’s what I mean, we might think we have free choice but choice is still limited. Anyway, it’s too far off topic here and I was just mentioning it as a side thought of interest.

People, I feel that for me this discussion has come to a close.
Only when on-topic, new points or views come up I will reply.
I have said why I am in favour of paid parental leave.
I have not made up my mind yet about the best way to fund it. I tend to not be in favour of having it funded by businesses because I don’t see how that would help a small business.
However, they are free to top up the minimum wage if they wish.

Thanks for this interesting thread and your compassionate posts, Antonios.

Celivia
THANK YOU VERY MUCH THIS IS MY LAST POST IN THIS THREAD.
Pericles, Col Rouge I will avoid any discussion about multinational companies and big corporations in this thread because this is TOTALLY A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I WANT TO DISCUSS IT BUT IN OTHER THREAD AND NOT ONLY FOR CORPORATION'S TAXES BUT CORPORATIONS AND DEMOCRACY, CORPORATIONS AND POLITIC, CORPORATIONS AND ENVIRONMENT, CORPORATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, CORPORATIONS AND TRADE UNIONS, ETC.
Pericles I do not know what kind of business you have but may be we could cooperate on it. I am at begin and I do two jobs, one for the basics and the other to build up my business.
I AM REALLY BUSY

PLEASE DO NOT SENT ANY POST AS I WILL NOT RETURN BACK ON THIS THREAD.

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

PML IS GOOD AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

>>PLEASE DO NOT SENT ANY POST AS I WILL NOT RETURN BACK ON THIS THREAD<<

To be honest, you didn't do a great deal of listening when you were here, ASymeonakis, so my talking to the wall as I am at the moment isn't much of a change of scene for me.

But leaving is one thing.

Leaving with - not one, but two - parting shots, of eyewatering, breathtaking cheek is entirely another.

>>Pericles, Col Rouge I will avoid any discussion about multinational companies and big corporations in this thread because this is TOTALLY A DIFFERENT ISSUE<<

Ahem, errr, well you introduced the topic when you said, and I quote exactly:

>>“the govt is still serving the corporate world”, check to find what taxes the corporations pay in Australia or worldwide. From zero taxes to very little taxes.<<

And then there was this one.

>>Pericles I do not know what kind of business you have but may be we could cooperate on it<<

Now, I fully realize that this was written, ASymeonakis, with your tongue firmly in your cheek. And to be fair, it did cause me to laugh out loud, thankful that my coffee was safely out of range.

But I could fill a book, ASymeonakis, on the reasons why we could never cooperate in business, simply from reading your posts on this thread.

All you have to do to prove me wrong is to build a successful business from scratch, following all the principles you espouse from your Union handbook.

Including paid materity leave, natch.

But please forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

As small business close at 700 per month last I checked since the Rudd Government this ought to help I dont think.
Its really easy when you think about it. All the Aussies are heading off shore to be replaced by Um, what can I call it.
Never mind the QLD State Government were on the job yesterday telling people to be sure to take their holidays and sick leave. Again at the bosses expense.
They reckon they have to make up for the tourists some how. The poor old boss again.
Australia has the highest rate for unmarried mothers in the world. Great.
Now this leave has been considered also for ALL woman. That is regardless if they have ever worked or paid taxes.
Yup you would have to have rocks in your head to employ young people be it male or femlae. Still that ought to take care of the Governments push to keep people working until they are in their eightys. Yep that took care of the old age welfare checks.
It could only happen in Austraila. Still the oldiers always worked for years and paid taxes for all the welfare free hand outs to the bludgers.
They even paid to look after their own kids.
Amazing bunch really. Wonder what will happen to this country when the last poor old dear falls off their perch. Gee who knows maybe then they might let in our skilled meat workers instead of putting unreasonable conditions upon those bosses that no others have.
How would you like to be Julia. Wow with that transport mob and others breathing down her neck.
This country cant AFFORD raises we actually need people working on peace contracts or we will be worse off than USA in a few years.

Until then Aussies ( some) are happy allowing others to pay their THEIR having kids!

Our system brings rewards to all
At least, to all who matter."

- Gerry Helleiner
Posted by Celivia,

What a load of C--p

Back in the late 70's I commenced my full time employment as an apprentice.

It was common to hear words like "work hard son and you will be rewarded"

What they didn't realise is that someone would 'shift the goal posts'.

You see when you accumilate what is considered too many assetts you miss out on things such as; family assistance, health benifits, discounted services, the list goes on.

Now I must admit I have learned to live with this, along with the fact that I have to provide for my own retirement plans, but! what I don't accept is why I have to fund some elses choices.

As for the comment on how I find time to place threads on this site.

Well it just happens that I enjoy the interaction with other folk and while I work 7 days a week, often for weeks at a time, I don't read books or watch much tele.

So in all I manage to work about 80 hours per week. Enjoy the company of my wife of 24 years and my adult children, while, at the same time run a succesful business employing about 10 people.

All in all I would call that a fairly balanced life, one which allows time for all involved and, I don't want for much, can enjoy a dinner out with my wife and not worry about where the next dollar is comming from.

Now if that all seems a bit 'un-real' to you, then I guess i'm the luckiest guy on the planet hey!