AWL President Leah Marrone spoke to Lawyers Weekly about the Budget’s changes to Parental Leave:

https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/34033-budget-2022-which-lawyers-benefit-from-paid-parental-leave-changes

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Australian Women Lawyers president and Flinders Chambers barrister Leah Marrone stated: “While men/‘non-birth parents and single parents can now take more of the leave pool on offer, which is welcome, there is no additional leave overall. As the pay is still at the minimum wage there is less incentive for many men who, particularly due to the gender pay gap, are often the higher income earner in the relationship.”

“Certainly there will be some situations where the maternal parent is the higher income earner, many of whom may be lawyers, and this would benefit them, there will also be some that benefit from the change in the income threshold, however for the vast majority of couples in Australia this will not be the case,” she outlined.

And Ms Marrone pointed out: “Superannuation is also not included. With all of these things considered together I see no real incentive or support in this budget for working people having children.”….