Economist Judith Sloan’s not a ‘man hating feminist’ but she is a feminist. And the paid parental leave scheme is up for a tough challenge in the new senate
That’s some of what you missed on the ABC’s Q&A last night, if you couldn’t tune in for the rare television moment in which an all-female panel appeared on a show NOT billed as a “women’s special”.
While some may well argue the show could have benefited from a male’s perspective, it was refreshing to see women negotiating policies such as paid parental leave on the panel and current concerns regarding retirement.
Tasmanian Palmer United Senator-elect Jacqui Lambie outlined her party’s plans to halt Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme in its current form. “We’re going to use some common sense here. We’re going to share that money around,” she said.
Likely to hold the balance of power in the new Senate, Lambie said her party would push for a maximum paid parental leave scheme paying women $50,000 over 12 months and $25,000 over six months. Much less than Abbott’s push to pay women their full replacement salary to a maximum of $75,000 over six months.
Asked if women can be successful in a conservative environment and where the “fear of the word feminism” stems from, the panel shared their views on whether the word feminism still matters and if we should start using the term “gender equalist” instead.
Entrepreneur Michelle Garnout responded that feminism still belongs on the agenda — highlighting her point with the example of footage of Abbott asking “where the ladies at” while attempting to organise a photoshoot of business leaders at the recent trade mission in Shanghai.
Senator Penny Wong, who recently gave a speech outlining her continued support for feminism, noted that she’s had the opportunities she’s had because feminists of the past fought for them.
“I think using the term is an important way of saying I acknowledge how my opportunities have come from these brave women doing these things and I also express my values going forward,and they are about continuing to address women’s disadvantaged,” she said. “Our work is not yet done.
Economist Judith Sloan said she’s a feminist when it comes to, “Free choice and equal opportunities for women … But when it comes to feminism where it’s about hatred of men or blaming men for their problems I’m not up for it.”
Meanwhile Liberal Senator Marise Payne said she’s proud to be a feminist and knows plenty of men calling themselves feminists too. “If one thing I can do during my political career is make some difference to that, then I’d really like to sign off on that.”
She said she’s kept a fax on her wall for some time during her political career quoting Irish author Rebecca West who once said, “I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.”
As for Lamby, she’s also a feminist, but eluded to the fact she’ll let nothing stand in her way. “I did ten years in the army, I say to the men. ‘Get out of my way or I’ll just go through you’.”