I am the 4th Sex Discrimination Commissioner to advocate for a national scheme of paid leave. After 10 years of advocacy, it is my great hope that I will be the last.

Some of you may have seen the coverage of the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave. Yesterday I appeared at the Sydney Hearing of this inquiry and put forward a two stage proposal for a national scheme of paid leave.

It has been great to see so much community interest in this important debate.

What does my proposal look like?

Stage one, for immediate introduction:

• A non-transferable national scheme of 14 weeks paid maternity leave at the rate of the federal minimum wage, or the average of the woman’s previous weekly earnings from all jobs, whichever is the lesser amount.
• A non-transferable, separate entitlement of two weeks paid ‘supporting parent leave’ calculated at the same basis as paid maternity leave. ‘Supporting parent leave’ is commonly known as paternity leave.

After Two Years an Independent review of stage one:

• To measure the impacts of the new scheme (including an analysis of the impact on small business), and make any necessary improvements.
• To develop and implement a second stage of paid leave measures.

Stage two, suggested for introduction after independent review :

• An additional 38 weeks of paid parental leave of which 4 weeks is reserved for the supporting parent on a “use it or lose it” basis.

When both stage 1 and stage 2 are in place, we will have a national paid leave scheme of one year’s duration.

The scheme will meet many objectives. Click here for more details for what my proposal seeks to achieve.

Making your voice heard

Don’t forget you can lodge your submissions to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry up until 2 June - http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/parentalsupport

I encourage you to put your views forward and continue the public debate.

Liz