NFAW precis on the draft Productivity Commission report on supporting parents with newborn children

Introduction

1. The Productivity Commission was asked by the Federal Government in February 2008 to undertake a public inquiry into paid maternity, paternity and paternal leave, reporting by February 2009. The Commission put out a background paper in April 2008, followed by a round of hearings and submissions.

2. The draft report was released on 30 September for public comment. It can be found on the internet at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport/draft. The closing date for responses is 14 November, e-mail parentalsupport@pc.gov.au. The Commission will hold public hearings starting on 10 November.

3. The National Foundation for Australia Women (NFAW) with Security for Women (S4W), with the support of the Commonwealth Office for Women, is also holding consultations in each State during October and early November of 2008: see schedule below and contacts. The objective is to encourage women to respond to the draft report in the form of submissions to the Productivity Commission.

1. 16 October, Brisbane – jenc@qwws.org.au
2. 20 October, Darwin – admin@ntwwc.com.au
3. 23 October, Perth – owp@communities.wa.gov.au
4. 27 October, Sydney – a.page@econ.usyd.edu.au
5. 5 November, Melbourne – inforequests@wire.org.au
6. 7 November, Adelaide – sandra@wwc.org.au
7. 12 November, Canberra – women@act.gov.au
8. 10 November, Hobart – wt.admin@dpac.tas.gov.au

4. The Commission will then produce a final report by February. At that point the Government will consider what its response will be. The Commission’s report does not commit the Government to a course of action, but will be politically very influential.