Tony Abbott’s proposed plan to introduce a national paid parental leave scheme has received support from the nation’s peak small business body today.
Jaye Radisich, CEO of the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) said that Tony Abbott’s scheme would mean that women in the workforce would receive leave at their existing salary level regardless of whether they are employed by big business, small business or if they work for themselves.
“COSBOA has had a policy in support of universal paid parental leave for quite some time,” Ms Radisich said.
“This step would place small business employees on an equal footing with those employees who work for big businesses and government that already have generous paid parental leave schemes in place.”
“Tony Abbott’s proposal is welcome because it supports small businesses that employ women and does not appear to shift any administrative burden to small business.
The plan by Mr Abbott would place the burden of paid parental leave to ‘big’ business with a 1.7% levy on businesses above a $5 million EBIT threshold, though it is expected that some small businesses might fall within the proposed threshold.
