Comments made yesterday by Jacqui Burke in the Legislative Assembly about Katy Gallagher, Deputy Chief Minister, taking maternity leave showed we still have a long way to go to ensure equality for women in the workplace.
As a working person with children I am familiar with the challenges of balancing work and family.
No-one should be made to feel ashamed for taking their child to work. It is not only unfair, but blatantly discriminatory.
A woman’s right to take maternity leave and return to work isn’t only good social policy, but is essential for maintaining skills in our workplaces and promoting economic growth.
I have always been proud of the leading role the ACT has taken on advancing equality in the workplace, however, Ms Burke’s comments shows how far we still have to go to gain real equality for women at work.
Families should be represented in the Legislative Assembly and Federal Parliament.
Contact: Rachel Allen – 6230 0411 or 0418 488 295
