Paid Parental Leave Best Mothers Day Present Ever

The Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians and the National Foundation for Australian Women warmly welcomed the announcement of the introduction of national Paid Parental Leave entitlements for Australia’s babies and their working mums and dads.

“This is a great decision for Australians babies and the best ever Mothers Day present we could get,” said Ms Gillian Calvert, NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People and Ms Marie Coleman, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Australian Women.

“We know that the early years are important years for children’s development and Paid Parental Leave is a cornerstone in giving parents the time to care for their babies at this important stage of their life,” Ms Calvert said.

“Research shows the continuous interaction between baby and parents in the baby’s first twelve months of life shapes the brain wiring – affecting how a child regulates emotions, communicates, solves problems, thinks logically and reacts to the world,” Ms Calvert said.

“Paid Parental Leave is also important for women as it helps them balance child bearing and care with continuous employment, particularly lower paid and vulnerable women workers,” said Ms Coleman.

“Importantly it means the workforce retains the skills and labour of female workers, directly affecting productivity and work efficiency,” Ms Coleman said.

“We congratulate the Rudd Government particularly Minister Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin for biting the bullet on Paid Parental Leave to improve the lives of Australia’s babies and working mums and dads,” Ms Calvert and Ms Coleman said.

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Media contacts

Gillian Calvert: 0413 452 498

Marie Coleman: 0414 483 067