Paid parental leave ‘over my dead body’, says Abbott
09 February, 2010 | Media Release Reports that Liberal leader Tony Abbott is considering a taxpayer-funded paid maternity leave scheme must be treated with extreme suspicion given his track record as a supporter of WorkChoices and previous hardline opponent of helping working mothers, say unions.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the Howard Government’s WorkChoices had undermined pay and conditions for women, and it was simply not credible that Mr Abbott believed in supporting working mothers and would actually deliver on such a scheme.

She said that when it came to women in the workforce, Mr Abbott was an unreconstructed traditionalist who was now attempting to court the female vote.

“After years of entrenched views antagonistic to the interests of women, Tony Abbott is now trying to con the electorate,” Ms Burrow said.

“His real views are contained in comments he has made in recent days that housework and ironing are the role of women.

“During his years as Employment Minister under John Howard, Mr Abbott never made any attempt to introduce a paid parental leave scheme. He is on record as opposing it.”

In 2002, he told a Liberal Party function in Victoria:

“Compulsory paid maternity leave? Over this Government’s dead body, frankly.” Maybe he passed away.

I agree with 579.
Abbott took his PPL scheme to the last election, and secured many votes with it.
I believe he knew he was lying about ever delivering fully on this promise, and should never had put it forward in the first place.

He knows it is now an unpopular policy with an electorate still upset with the budget that seemed to target the sick, the unemployed, and the disabled.

So after embarrassing Australia with his silly knighthoods, he now seeks to soothe the masses by dropping the PPL.
If he does do this, will we see any sudden increases in the budget for the health and education funding do you think?

Not a hope.

We will probably see an increase in the funding for the school chaplain schemes, or for the retired priests fund....

Suseonline,

The public services, particularly the federal public service have led on conditions of service for many years. In fact from Whitlam on, the feds have been raging bulls where conditions of employment are concerned. Women senior managers, executives and highly paid professional categories have enjoyed maternity and parental leave at full pay for a very long time.

What about the extension of the entitlements to de factos that cost the taxpayer hugely?

Cut them back ASAP, you say? If not, why not?

No OTB, I don't think any hard fought for conditions should be lost at all.

I actually liked the PPL scheme but realise it was probably too expensive to have at a time when such groups as the poor, sick and disabled are being targeted to 'save' money in this budget.

I dislike lying politicians who take their 'signature' policy to the election, and then go back on their word.

Nice one, Queensland.

No-one's talking about Prince Philip anymore.....

'Hard Boiled' Newman, gone, the drongo in Victoria, gone, time for that rabbit Abbott to be gone! Good one Queensland.