Fed: Labor accuses govt of using welfare smokescreen

00-00-0000
Fed: Labor accuses govt of using welfare smokescreen

CANBERRA, Dec 12 AAP - Labor today accused the government of talking up a proposalfor a common welfare payment to shift the focus off paid maternity leave.

The Australian newspaper reported welfare payments and the tax system could be reformedso that single mothers were encouraged to marry or form stable relationships under newCoalition proposals.

In an effort to curb welfare spending, the Coalition wants to unify payments to theunemployed, and remove welfare payment anomalies that discourage people from moving frombenefits into work, the newspaper said.

Opposition family and community services spokesman Wayne Swan accused the governmentof trying to use its new welfare reform proposals as a smokescreen to prevent discussionon paid maternity leave.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward yesterday presented the government witha report proposing a 14 week paid maternity leave scheme at a level up to the federalminimum wage of $431 per week.

"Paid maternity leave is an essential bridge between family life and the world of workin the 21st Century but the Howard government doesn't want to touch it," Mr Swan said.

Mr Swan said a common welfare payment could be constructive if the government was preparedto invest in people and reward work over welfare.

"But sadly given the record of this government, what it will probably mean is cutsto payments," he said.

Mr Swan said the proposal to encourage women to be in a relationship demonstrated howout of touch the government was with modern Australia.

"This government lives in the 50s, they are completely out of touch with the modernworld of work and modern family life in this country," he said.

AAP so/mg/sb

KEYWORD: WELFARE SWAN