[Australia] GP takes on government over ‘ludicrous’ parental leave inequality

A Perth GP has started a parliamentary petition calling on the Australian government to change the legislation for Paid Parental Leave, making it more equitable, nine.com.au reports.

The petition has already attracted close to 3,200 signatures. It closes on May 19.

Dr Bailey said her objections were about not only the money but the unfairness of the situation.

"It is ludicrous … although I see discrimination on a daily basis in my work based on my gender, I am stunned and appalled that there exists legislation that underscores this discrimination," Dr Bailey writes in the petition.

"How can we expect the same working conditions as our male counterparts when our own government will not support our legitimacy?" 

When Dr Bailey started making plans for a family she reportedly looked into the government's parental leave scheme and was stunned to discover she wouldn't be entitled to anything. Although Dr Bailey earns slightly more than the $150,000 cut off for the government's 18-week Parental Leave Pay, her partner is currently studying and on a very low income.

Because eligibility for the scheme is tied only to the mother's income, the father's earnings have no impact at all, meaning neither Dr Bailey nor her husband is entitled to Parental Leave Pay.

The situation has already received criticism for unfairly penalising both female breadwinners and stay-at-home dads. Under the current rules, mothers are only able to transfer Parental Leave Pay entitlements - totalling about $13,800 - to the father if they both earn under $150,000.

"I was quite shocked to find out this was the case," Dr Bailey said.

"I think it is discrimination. If my husband was a female our family would be able to get the income. If I was a male, I would be able to get the parental leave."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told nine.com.au that the government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme was designed to complement employer-based schemes and allow parents to spend quality time with their child after birth or adoption.

The statement said, "The scheme's income test recognises that women who are on a higher income and are primary carers are in a stronger position to obtain paid parental leave and other family-friendly benefits as part of their conditions of employment."

The government's parental leave scheme became law more than a decade ago in 2010. Several proposed amendments to the act were debated in the Senate in June last year, in an attempt to make the legislation more flexible.

Changes were passed allowing the main carer to take the full 18 weeks as a block or in parts shared between both parents, anytime within two years of the birth.

However, a proposed amendment from Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff - which would have addressed the problem of the income test only applying to the mother - was voted down by the government and One Nation.

Under Senator Griff's suggestion, partners would be able to apply for Parental Leave Pay if the mother does not meet the income test. Estimates provided to Senator Griff by the Parliamentary Budget Office at the time indicated that the change would only cost $3 million a year.

A Perth GP has started a parliamentary petition calling on the Australian government to change the legislation for Paid Parental Leave, making it more equitable, nine.com.au reports.

The petition has already attracted close to 3,200 signatures. It closes on May 19.

Dr Bailey said her objections were about not only the money but the unfairness of the situation.

"It is ludicrous … although I see discrimination on a daily basis in my work based on my gender, I am stunned and appalled that there exists legislation that underscores this discrimination," Dr Bailey writes in the petition.

"How can we expect the same working conditions as our male counterparts when our own government will not support our legitimacy?" 

When Dr Bailey started making plans for a family she reportedly looked into the government's parental leave scheme and was stunned to discover she wouldn't be entitled to anything. Although Dr Bailey earns slightly more than the $150,000 cut off for the government's 18-week Parental Leave Pay, her partner is currently studying and on a very low income.

Because eligibility for the scheme is tied only to the mother's income, the father's earnings have no impact at all, meaning neither Dr Bailey nor her husband is entitled to Parental Leave Pay.

The situation has already received criticism for unfairly penalising both female breadwinners and stay-at-home dads. Under the current rules, mothers are only able to transfer Parental Leave Pay entitlements - totalling about $13,800 - to the father if they both earn under $150,000.

"I was quite shocked to find out this was the case," Dr Bailey said.

"I think it is discrimination. If my husband was a female our family would be able to get the income. If I was a male, I would be able to get the parental leave."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told nine.com.au that the government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme was designed to complement employer-based schemes and allow parents to spend quality time with their child after birth or adoption.

The statement said, "The scheme's income test recognises that women who are on a higher income and are primary carers are in a stronger position to obtain paid parental leave and other family-friendly benefits as part of their conditions of employment."

The government's parental leave scheme became law more than a decade ago in 2010. Several proposed amendments to the act were debated in the Senate in June last year, in an attempt to make the legislation more flexible.

Changes were passed allowing the main carer to take the full 18 weeks as a block or in parts shared between both parents, anytime within two years of the birth.

However, a proposed amendment from Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff - which would have addressed the problem of the income test only applying to the mother - was voted down by the government and One Nation.

Under Senator Griff's suggestion, partners would be able to apply for Parental Leave Pay if the mother does not meet the income test. Estimates provided to Senator Griff by the Parliamentary Budget Office at the time indicated that the change would only cost $3 million a year.