Well, it’s kind of progress. At least it’s being discussed. According to the ABC:

The Government should pay for 18 weeks of parental
leave for new mothers and two weeks for fathers at the minimum wage
rate, the Productivity Commission has recommended.

The Commission’s interim report, Paid Parental Leave: Support for
Parents with Newborn Children, says the scheme should pay mothers at a
rate of $544 a week, at a cost to the Government of about $450 million
a year.

However, mothers who are eligible for the scheme would not be
allowed to receive the $5,000 baby bonus and Family Tax Benefit B and
the weekly payment would also be taxed.

Even if you are a casual working or being paid less than the minimum wage, you’d still receive the $544 per week. But if you earn more than that, you only get $544. Which is better than the nothing you currently get but doesn’t help if your mortage or rent or living expenses are geared for a higher income.

Predictably and infuriatingly, employer groups are saying 18 weeks is too much. They would like 0 weeks.

Those in the scheme would receive a total of nearly $12,000 while those on the allowance would receive nearly $7,000.

The employer would pay the entitlement and would be reimbursed by
the Government but would also be required to pay the employee
superannuation which the Commission estimates will cost business around
$75 million a year.

Australia is one of only two OECD countries that still does not have publicly funded maternity leave.

Speaking before the report’s release, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said
it was time the Government offered a scheme, but gave no commitment
there would be one in next year’s Budget.

"The Australian economy of the future will have stay-at-home mums
who will be supported with the baby bonus but also mums in the paid
workforce who we will also be supporting with paid maternity leave," he
said.

"It’s time Australia bit the bullet on this.

"It’s going to be a challenge to make sure we get the exact policy
settings right because we are in the midst of serious global economic
challenges."

Is it just me or does it sound suspiciously like Rudd is making excuses already for why this isn’t going to happen? The current global economic crisis should not impact on a government funded maternity scheme……what a cop-out.

If you want to read the actual report, you can find it here