'Why the paid parental leave announcement makes me want to cry'
By Victoria Owens|
OPINION -- For the first time ever, the Albanese government has announced it will start paying super on paid parental leave (PPL), and mums everywhere are cheering loudly.
The historic announcement timed ahead of International Women's Day will see an extra $106 paid into parents' super accounts each week, in a bid to close the retirement savings gap between men and women.
And while I know this change applies to both men and women, if we're truly being honest, it's going to have the biggest impact on mothers.
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For the most part, mums have had to take the majority of time off to raise children and up until now they've been constantly disadvantaged for it.
This reform, although modest, will see around $2,500 going into mums' super accounts during their paid parental leave, which compounds to around $25,000 after 30 years จC that's not an amount to be sniffed at.
"For the first time in history, it feels like the federal government is finally on 'Team Mum'"?
I don't know what it is about this particular announcement, but it makes me emotional.
For the first time in history, it feels like the federal government is finally on 'Team Mum' and it makes me feel so happy I could cry, because for too long mums have received the messaging that we just have to grin and bear it.
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But now the tide is turning and in the last few years there's been some game-changing improvements made in our favour.
The government has increased the amount paid to mothers on leave, it's increased the number of weeks leave they can take and now this.
And while we are still way behind where paid parental leave needs to be to achieve equality between mums and dads, it's still a massive step in the right direction.
It's recognition that this is a workplace entitlement, not a welfare payment.
It's recognition that the job of parents who take time out from the workforce to raise children is an important one, and worthy of adequate pay and super.
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Because while being a mum is the most rewarding job I've ever had, it's also the most difficult. And up until now, it's been underplayed by governments, by society, even by other mums, who just keep calm and carry on each day.
The role of being a child's everything deserves to not only be recognised, but to be rewarded.
Which is why this reform from the Albanese government feels like it's sending a strong message about its stance on parents จC it's finally in our corner.
In my four years of being a mum, I've shared countless conversations with other women about the financial concerns they face while raising children and a lack of super is always at the top of the list.
So many mums reluctantly admit their super looks significantly less healthy than their partner's จC this is not a problem that affects men in the same way.
So far the only way some mums have been able to prop up their super while raising kids is if their partner pays super contributions or if their workplace provides super on unpaid leave.
But these are exceptions to the reality most women are stuck with.
It's crazy to think that up until now, PPL has also been the only leave that doesn't include super จC like an afterthought that it deserves to be recognised just as much as sick or bereavement leave.
Speaking to fellow mums in light of this news, most are excited and hopeful that it's a good sign for the future of women.
Despite the fact that they won't be able to reap the benefits of these reforms themselves, it leaves them hopeful that if and when their daughters become mothers, there will be more support to help them through the most important job they will ever face.
And that's something to celebrate.
