“Labor’s plan on maternity leave will do little more than hurt the employment prospects of women and cripple small business” the Acting Treasurer, Peter Dutton said today.
“Labor's announcement today goes way too far. It will backfire on women in particular, wreck small business and ultimately undermine the strength of the Australian economy” Mr Dutton said.
"Labor believe that by undermining the staffing stability of businesses, both large and small, they are helping families, but they are in fact doing the complete opposite.
“Over the last 10 years there has been no better friend to Australian families than the Howard Government. The Government supports families directly through the baby bonus, the family tax benefit, child care benefit and the child care tax rebate.
"The Howard Government strongly supports a balance between family needs and business needs through running a strong economy. Since 1996, 2 million new jobs have been created, with half of these going to women. This is an increase in jobs for women of 30 per cent over the past decade.
"This announcement is the first sign Mr Rudd does not have the experience to manage the Australian economy.
“Labor’s policy will force up unemployment and drive employers away from employing women of child bearing age.
"A small business owner would potentially have to leave open a position, in some cases up to 8 or 9 years if a staff member, male or female, decided to parent three children during that period.
"Mr Rudd has just reminded us why Labor wrecked the economy, drove up interest rates and pushed unemployment to over 10% when they were last in power.
“This reckless plan is a clear reason why Australia simply cannot afford a federal Labor Government” Mr Dutton said.