Mummy wars! Are Stay-At-Home Mums Being Discriminated Against Or Are The New Recommendations For Paid Maternity Leave Fair?

Mummy Wars – are the new recommendations for Paid Maternity Leave Fair? Have your say

In last month's newsletter we highlighted the Productivity Commission's initial recommendations for statutory paid maternity leave. These recommendations have sparked new debate as to whether it's unfair for working mums to be paid more for having babies than stay at home mums or Mummy Wars as the media is describing it (click here to see article).

Working mums will receive baby bonus, statutory paid maternity leave, child care benefit and the child care tax rebate, plus any other FTB allowances they may be eligible for depending on their income and if they are a single parent or in a two parent family.

Stay at home mums will receive the baby bonus any FTB benefits they may be eligible for as a single parent or depending on their partner's income if they are a two parent family. They may also receive child care benefit if they choose to send their children to child care (depending on their partner's income if they have one) and can also receive the Child Care Tax Rebate.

While it's all really about giving the choice to work or stay at home with your children, the Australian government says that the economy needs women to be in the workforce. It also needs the birthrate and population to increase. Stay at home mums will receive financial help if they need it and working mums will be compensated for lost earnings and encouraged back to the workforce without forcing them back earlier than is necessary due to financial and employer pressure. What do you think?

Forum Question: Do you think all mothers (working and stay at home) should be paid the same amount under proposed maternity leave provisions?

Click here to have your say on CareforKids Social in our forum on Paid Maternity Leave