So many years ago the ALP bought in child welfare payments, even the church of England fought against it.
They got it wrong it was not an act of communism.
We will get maternity leave for working mothers as Antonius says most have it now.
Why?
Our birth rate is falling, we except things like reading books to our children, even giving the computers.
We talk of importing workers to do the things we can not but we fail to understand current conditions stop women working or for some having children.
We will be a better country when we get paid leave AS mate some stand against this because you branded it a union fight, while it is it is also in the common good of us all.
Tax's? we constantly want to pay less for more services, some would be quite upset if everything they treasure was not funded by us all.
Our kids are our country's future they should have mum at home for a few months and we every one of us should fund better child care for every one of them.
We are about to do so, Kevin Rudd leads a caring team.
Tapp while I give no weight to anything you write re read your post, ask your self was it in any way adressing the thread?
Did it just continue your blind hate of my union movement and the ALP?

Pericles
The ALP from long time ego has the paid maternity leave as its key policy, bellow I will give you some information.

From 2004 federal elections
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has intensified debate on the issue by announcing paid maternity leave as a key policy in the lead-up to this year's Federal election.
In its 2004 National Platform and Constitution, the ALP announced its plans to introduce 14 weeks' paid maternity leave (PML). http://www.hcamag.com/hca_aus/detail_article.cfm?articleID=293

From 2007 federal elections ALP’s program
Article 19 A Better Balance between Work and Family
·encourage employers to provide more family friendly workplaces, including the provision of paid family leave, extended unpaid parental leave, family friendly rostering provisions, paid maternity leave….

11 Sep 2007 (before last elections)
Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has written committing to the following:”If elected I will ask the Productivity Commission to examine the effectiveness of different models to improve support for parents in the labour force with new born children, their likely impact on work and family preferences and workforce participation more generally. The inquiry would also investigate the cost effectiveness of different models, their likely impact on business and interaction with the
social security system. Labor would publicly release the findings of this report. "http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:2-l0uy8d4LQJ:www.kids.nsw.gov.au/director/resources/news.cfm%3FitemID%3DFD5B2FBAC151C8E5E9A38A1940D2C389%26generatePDF%3D1+RUDD+paid+maternity+leave&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au

ALP Government asked the Productivity Commission, which now examines all the factors about paid maternity leave and next February it will publicly release the findings of this report.
Everything was very clear before the elections, people voted the ALP because they agreed with it and last weeks survey shows that ALP popularity is more than 70%, the highest ever had the ALP, may be of cause the high publicity about the paid maternity leave.

Really I can not understand where is the non democratic

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear bleeding hearts, I must say that I agree with Col on this one. The're your kids, you provide for them or DON'T HAVE THEM!

After all, you now get paid to have them but obviously this is not enough you want more. Surely the baby bonus should be sufficient re-embursement for your choice to have a child.

Little wonder we all pay more for basic living because business owners won't, and shouldn't bare the costs of your life choices.
Additional costs of running a business are simply added to the prices we pay for goods and services or havn't you worked that out yet?

In the end if you can't afford something, borrow for it.

If you can't afford the repayments, then go without!

Oh goody

we have a child leading a party of followers asking

please sir can i have some more

Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has written committing to the following:”If elected I will ask the Productivity Commission to examine the effectiveness of different models to improve support for parents in the labour force with new born children, their likely impact on work and family preferences and workforce participation more generally. The inquiry would also investigate the cost effectiveness of different models, their likely impact on business and interaction with the social security system.

Stuart Ulrich
Independent

rehctub
"I must say that I agree with Col " there is no reason to say it because I know you very well! In a democratic system every one has the right to express his/her thoughts/opinion. The question is not what you say but what the democratically elected ALP government decides. You know the news about the paid maternity leave, even you know last week's survey. ALP popularity 70%.
rehctub
We need a strong and responsible opposition, all democracies need strong opposition, but persons like you sent the people direct to ALP!
THANK YOU!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Tax's we all pay them people without children pay for education, people who do not use public transport pay for it.
It is no surprise some refuse to see the benefits for every Australian if our kids are better for a more caring upbringing.
And if they are born.
Some balance between the often miss used baby bonus and this proposal would be an improvement.
Australia needs working mums to have children and we will get paid maternity leave for them, some unions have already done so.
If we took note of the cry it is not my child we would be an unhappy country surely its in the best interests of us all?