ACT MP Muriel Newman is worried that supporters of paid parental leave will use the pregnancy of National MP, Katherine Rich, to misrepresent the strength of their argument.

“People who choose to have babies should not expect anyone else to pay for them. It is nobody’s privilege to expect financial assistance as of right.

“The decision to have a baby is one of the most important decisions that anyone ever makes. Having a baby is a personal choice and a private responsibility, and any family that can not manage the extra cost should not expect anyone else to fund them.

“It is already wrong that taxpayers fund women who are on their own and unemployed to have new babies. It makes it worse to extend it to all women in the workforce.

“ACT has always opposed any scheme to bring compulsory funding for paid parental leave. If an employer wants to provide that sort of benefit for their staff then good on them. But they should not be compelled to do it by law.

“Couples should make sure they are physically, emotionally and financially ready to become parents. If they are not they should not expect anyone else to foot the bill,“ said Muriel Newman.

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