Female leadership and welfare state reform: the develoment of Australia's first national paid parental leave scheme

Abstract

The Howard Government's commitment to supporting the male breadwinner policy model was a major barrier to the efforts of female political leaders to influence the development of a national paid parental leave scheme. Associated with this model was the argument that paid parental leave 'discriminated' against nonworking women and devalued their contribution to society as mothers. Despite a change of government in 2007 this argument remained influential through the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave (2009). Key to the eventual legislation of the scheme in 2010 was female leaders' strategy of aligning with, rather than disrupting, this narrative. As such, women in trade unions, political parties, women's groups and the bureaucracy framed paid parental leave as supporting women in their maternal roles as it allowed them the financial breathing room to stay at home for longer with their newborn.