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Issue No. 215 | 02 April 2004 |
Something Smells
Interview: Terror Australis Unions: Graeme Beard's Second Dig Industrial: The Hell of Troy Organising: Miners Strike Gold Economics: The Accepted Wisdom History: Vicious Old Lady International: Out of Sight, Out of Mind Review: War Unfogged Poetry: TAFE
Gong Points Death Bone at Iemma Strip � Howard�s Order to Shoppies Workers Victory - We�re Legal! Patrick Faces Million Dollar Fines Water Quality in Budget Back-Wash Life � Cambodia�s Grand Raffle
Postcard The Soapbox The Locker Room Politics
Getting Away With Murder Terrorism
Labor Council of NSW |
News Maternity Plan: Hard Labor?
While workers have welcomed the new policy to introduce maternity leave across the community, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has queried the ALP's plans to fund policy initiatives by reducing public sector jobs. According to the CPSU the past few weeks have seen the ALP foreshadow the abolition or restructure of a range of Commonwealth departments including the National Office of Information Economy (NOIE) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission / Service (ATSIS/ATSIS). "Public sector job insecurity is rising in the run up to the election," says CPSU Assistant National Secretary Margaret Gillespie. "We estimate that as many as 1,800 positions are now under a cloud." Costings released with the ALP's Baby Care Payment proposal last week show that a number of public service agencies, including the Australian Broadcasting Authority/Australian Communications Authority (ABA/ACA), the National Capital Authority, the Bureau of Rural Science and others face cuts. With the introduction of the new Baby Care Payment, Labor will give eligible mothers a payment paid in fortnightly instalments for a minimum period of 14 weeks. This payment will be $3,000 in 2005, rising to $5,380 by 2010. Labor's Baby Care Payment follows its commitment to introduce 14 weeks paid maternity leave. Women whose family income is below the Family Tax Benefit current cut-out of $85,702, plus approximately $7,000 for each additional child under 18, will be eligible for the new payment, with the family's income assessed at the time of the child's birth. All eligible mothers, in and out of the workforce, will receive the payment.
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