Yesterday brought some long awaited good news for parents expecting new babies in the next few months, with Social Services Minister Christian Porter conceding that the government’s proposed cuts to paid parental leave won’t happen in this Parliament.
But that admission came with a very large asterisks attached, and one that we should all be very concerned about.
“That does not mean that this government at the moment is not trying to change [the current system], or if it were re-elected wouldn’t also be looking at ways in which to modify the existing system along the lines that we have suggested…”
With this carefully worded addendum to yesterday’s admittance, Minister Porter has just confirmed what many of us suspected — that the Turnbull Government is standing by its plans to cut new parents’ paid time at home.
It means that paid parental leave is shaping up as an election issue.
There are two key reasons we should all be paying attention to (and getting involved in) what happens next:
1. This issue could be a key battleground in the upcoming election campaign.
Last election, Tony Abbott took his promise of a 26 week parental leave system to the election, and won votes because of it.
This year, we have an election expected as soon as July 2nd, and the latest polls showing the Coalition and Labor are neck-and-neck. Combine that with the Coalition’s shift from expanding parental leave, to cutting it; polling commissioned by The Parenthood that shows 18% of working mums are still undecided on who they’ll vote for, and Jenna Price’s analysis showing that 20 of the 21 most marginal seats in the country have far more women eligible to vote than men, and things start to get interesting.
2. Community campaigning is winning
Since the cuts were (memorably) first proposed by the Abbott government on Mother’s Day last year, and then quietly re-imagined by the Turnbull government just before Christmas, community campaigning has been consistent, and winning.
Members of campaigning communities like Fair Agenda have been calling, emailing and meeting with crossbench Senators, and even commissioning modelling to show the devastating impact cuts to parental leave would have on families, communities, and women. Other groups have held pram protests, worked with employer groups to speak out against cuts to the current system, and come together in other creative ways to keep the pressure up around this issue.
This consistent and strategic community mobilisation has helped secure the vital Senate crossbench votes needed to block this legislation. With public commitments from Senators Lambie, Lazarus, Xenophon and Madigan to vote against the cuts, and consistent opposition from Labor and The Greens, the Government has been forced to shelve its plan simply because it can’t pass it in the Senate.
It’s ridiculous that in 2016 we still have to campaign against attacks on parental leave. But since we do, it’s vital to remember that together, we’re changing things. Both because it’s important to celebrate; but also because yesterday’s comments mean that we can expect that if the Coalition government are returned, we’ll have to fight their cuts again under a new Senate.
What’s more, yesterday’s revelations mean that knowing the position of the Senate candidates you’re planning to vote for at this election is vital, as is getting involved in the ongoing campaign to protect paid parental leave.
These are both things Fair Agenda will be working on in the lead up to the election.