Getting down to business on dads

Business groups have given the green light to talks on how paid-parental leave can be reformed to encourage more men to stay at home.

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said businesses were ready to work with the government to improve the gender equity of parental leave.

Business groups have given the green light to talks with Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth on how paid-parental leave can be reformed to encourage more men to stay at home and look after young children.

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said businesses were ready to work with the government to improve the gender equity of parental leave.

“We strongly support reform to paid parental leave that would ensure it provides adequate time off to new parents and encour­ages families to share caring ­responsibilities to drive cultural change,” Ms Westacott said.

“Businesses are ready to work with the government to design an effective parental leave system, give mums and dads a chance to make decisions about what works for them and let ­people realise their potential at work.

“Getting this right is critical to securing our economy for the ­future – that’s why large employers are already leading the way.

“The Business Council has proposed a more flexible paid parental leave scheme that would reward parents for sharing leave time equally.”

In The Australian on Tuesday, Ms Rishworth outlined plans to begin talking with business on how private sector paid-parental leave could better mirror changing gender roles.

“Society has changed. A lot more men do want to play a role. And a lot of men do say they want to be the primary caregiver for some period of time,” she told The Australian.

“There is a real opportunity to have a conversation with ­employers about how we get the system to work for families.”

The government is considering a proposal in the Morrison government’s last budget to allow couples to share 20 weeks of paid parental leave rather than have a primary carer take 18 weeks of the leave.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said “we perfectly welcome a discussion on this”.

“From a business point of view, it is about changing culture and perceptions about what is normal,” he said.

“(It is positive) having an ­outcome where ­fathers feel it is perfectly normal to accept a greater proportion of the parenting responsibility in terms of ­taking time off work to commit to that.”

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said it was important paid parental leave provided “equitable work outcomes for both parents”.