International Women’s Day and Rudd Government commitments remain undelivered - Mirabella

06-March-2009

As Australians celebrate International Women’s Day this Sunday, the Rudd Government has failed to deliver on key commitments to women after more than 16 months in office, Shadow Minister for Women Sophie Mirabella said today.

“As with many of Labor’s election commitments, the promises Kevin Rudd and his colleagues made to women before they were elected remain unfulfilled,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“They’re either still out to a Committee – as is the National Plan to reduce Violence against Women and Children. Or the Government is stalling and won’t make a decision – like on Paid Maternity Leave.”

Mrs Mirabella said the Rudd Government had received the Productivity Commission’s final Report on Paid Parental leave last week, but had refused to publicly release the details.

“This is a highly-anticipated Report which the Government promised Australian families before the 2007 election. Now they are stalling and trying to hide on the issue. That’s not good enough – more than 285,000 families received the baby bonus last year and a similar number will be waiting to see what the Government will do on paid maternity leave so they can plan for the future.”

“If the Government is considering a response in the May Budget, they should put the report on the table and encourage community debate and discussion on the Productivity Commission’s findings. That would be the upfront and honest thing to do.”

Mrs Mirabella said that the Government had raised community expectations that a scheme would be introduced with the Prime Minister’s comment that it was “time to bite the bullet” on Paid Maternity Leave.

“Kevin Rudd has not made a tough decision since coming to office and is quick to blame others when it comes to meeting his election promises.”

“Given December’s $10 billion cash splash, and the $42 billion spending package announced last month, the Coalition is sceptical of the Rudd Government’s ability to deliver on its election commitment of paid parental leave now he has taken Australia into deficit and he is racking up $200 billion in debt.”

Mrs Mirabella said she understood that the Council working on the National Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children had asked the Government for an extension of time to produce the detailed plan.

“That’s understandable and the Council is working hard. But what is unforgivable is that Labor scrapped the highly successful “Violence Against Women, Australia Says No” public education campaign and has put nothing in its place in the meantime. It’s just not good enough.”

“On International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister ought to stop hiding behind Committees and Reports and actually start delivering for the women of Australia.”