Fed: PM refuses to commit to paid maternity leave
CANBERRA, April 19 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard would not commit the federal governmentto paid maternity leave today, saying it had the potential to discriminate against women.
Mr Howard said there were already programs for new mothers, including the government'selection centrepiece, the baby bonus.
"It will provide a very significant level of financial help for mothers having theirfirst child," he told Melbourne radio 3AW.
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward yesterday released a discussionpaper on options for paid maternity leave, following consultation with employer and employeegroups, unions, academics and governments.
Mr Howard said the government would consider the report.
"I'm not ruling something out, I'm not ruling it in either," he said.
"If you are to fund it out of the taxpayers' pocket, it will cost money.
"If you are to impose it on employers, that will actually discriminate against somewomen because there could well be fewer women employed ... many small firms just won'tbe able to afford it."
Mr Howard admitted Australia's low fertility rate was a concern.
"There are a lot of ways you've got to tackle it and it's not just related to the stateof our maternity leave laws," he said.
"I'd like to see it turned around. The evidence of other countries is that no one singlefinancial inducement by governments can turn it around."
AAP so/daw/las/sb
KEYWORD: MATERNITY HOWARD
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