Maternity leave.

There are only two developed countries that do not have maternity leave - the United States of America - and Australia !

The Productivity Commission has introduced a plan to provide eighteen weeks maternity leave for women and two weeks paternity leave for men. The rate of pay would be pegged at $ 544 a week - and the leave would have to be taken within the first six months of the birth on a " use it or lose it " basis.

This maternity leave would replace the existing $ 5,000 " baby bonus ", but stay-at-home mums would not miss out. They would be compensated for the benefits that their working sisters were provided by becoming eligible for a new $ 6,800 bonus.

The big question that bedevils all such schemes is " who pays for it ? "

It is suggested that this be sheeted home to the Federal government out of the huge surplus, but that employers contribute by continuing superannuation payments during the time their employee is on maternity leave.

There seems to be one obvious fly in the ointment. The Productivity Commission plan calls for this scheme to have a vice versa clause, allowing men and women to decide who takes the eighteen weeks leave and who the two weeks. This seems to be a ploy to satisfy the " gender equality " people.

That will fail the " fairness " test in most people's minds. There is no doubt that given a choice some men will insist on their partner returning to work after a brief two weeks - while they enjoy an eighteen week break and play a little golf.

This proviso seems to forget one of the reasons for maternity leave is to allow a woman to repair her body after the trauma of birth. Bonding with the new baby is part of the reason, but during gestation the fetus cannibalises it's mother to gain growth nutrients - and then the mother endures the stress and pain of birthing. This is something the father thankfully avoids.

Whatever scheme finally gets the nod it will not please everyone. Inevitably employers will claim it is too costly and women's advocates will seek more benefits - but at least something better than the status quo will emerge.

Provided that wise heads drop that vice versa idea !