So John Howard and Peter Costello think that their “family-friendly” budget is the answer to all our prayers. Once again they have missed the point. If they listened to the electorate even occasionally, they would realise that what people want is real maternity leave and child care options.
What we didn’t need to see was Peter Costello smirking his way through “popping out babies” jokes. Did he think that one up for himself or did a speech writer come up with that little gem? Anyone who has followed politics realises that John Howard is trapped in a 1950’s mindset. He truly believes in the old adage that a woman’s place is in the home. That Mum should be happily ensconced at home raising 2.6 kids while Dad goes out and works 9to5 as the breadwinner.
Mr Howard needs to lend his ear to the electorate and listen to what hey are asking for. If he did, he might find out that in order to have that “Great Australian Dream”, both Mum and Dad have to work, and it’s rarely 9to5. So Mr Costello, when Australian women begin popping out “One for your husband, one for your wife and one for your country”, are you going to give them an appropriate amount of maternity leave?
Unfortunately the dismantling approach the Howard government has when it comes to anything that relates to community has destroyed one option in child care. The community based child care centres that used to operate on a non-profit basis used to fill some of the void. However, the Howard government decided that these would be closed in favour of private centers, by cutting their funding in 1996. Now, in order for a working parent to obtain a child care placement, they have to be both cashed-up and forward thinking. Cashed up because child care is expensive and forward thinking because they need to put their name on a waiting list before they even contemplate having a child.
We have made some leaps forward with some employers granting paternity leave to their male employees. However, the point is still being missed. Along with those who do not plan to, or cannot have children.