House debates Questions without Notice
Paid Parental Leave
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
2:25 pm
My question is to the Treasurer. What is the estimated annual rate of growth in spending for the Prime Minister's Paid Parental Leave scheme over the next 10 years?
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications
You can't just scrape by on charisma, Jenny!
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Who was that? Who was that on the government side? I will give the call to the Treasurer.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Whoever made that comment will desist. We will have silence, thank you!
Opposition members interjecting—
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
I am a human shield here, Madam Speaker—or more of a sight screen, I think.
An opposition member: That's what Tony thinks about you!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
We will have silence and we will hear from the Treasurer.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
2:26 pm
I thank the honourable member for her question.
A government member: What was the question?
It is a good question: what was the question? But I will answer it at any rate. I will mention that the honourable member for Jagajaga knows that we have to increase workforce participation. If we could increase workforce participation, particularly by women—
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
The number!
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
aged between the ages of 25 and 54, it would be terrific for the economy, because if we could get to workforce participation levels that are the equivalent of Canada, our economy would be between $25 billion and $40 billion larger—simply if we had the same number of women aged 25 to 54 in the workforce participating as that of Canada. In fact, New Zealand has a higher workforce participation rate. So we need to increase workforce participation. And the Paid Parental Leave scheme, together with further investment in child care, is going to help deliver the—
Ms Kate Ellis interjecting —
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
What have you got against working women? I do not understand it. I do not understand what they have against working women and workforce participation.
Opposition members interjecting —
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There will be silence! The Treasurer will resume his seat. The member for Jagajaga on a point of order.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Help him out, Jenny, and give him a minute to find the answer.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
I rise on a point of order. Just to give him a little bit of time to find the answer—
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
Relevance! Have a look in the Parliamentary Budget Office—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member will resume her seat. The Treasurer has the call.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
The reason why we are introducing a Paid Parental Leave scheme at replacement wages is because we believe it is going to help to increase the workforce participation levels of women aged between 25 and 54. Now, the important point is this: the Labor Party knows that we have an ageing population. We should celebrate the fact that Australians are living longer, but it is hugely important that those people of working age participate more in work. The way to do that is to have sensible reforms—
Mr Husic interjecting—
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
reforms such as Paid Parental Leave at replacement wages, such as that offered in the Public Service, such as that provided to members of the Labor Party and such as that advocated at worksites by the industrial arm of the Labor Party. It is hugely important that we have appropriate, affordable and accessible child care, and it is hugely important that we ensure that the government continues to invest in the productive infrastructure that builds the economy. Paid Parental Leave is part of the equation. It is not the total solution but it is part of the equation. Not only is the Paid Parental Leave scheme that we are introducing financially responsible—
Ms Owens interjecting—
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
because it is fully funded by the largest companies in Australia and not only is it improving the budget, but it is actually going to improve the productivity in the economy.