Jake Zanoni has penned his thoughts on a Paid Maternity Leave Scheme.
I just sent this email to my Senator (Senator Gary Humphries – ACT) and cc’d Tony Abbott. All those who are opposed to this scheme should likewise contact their Coalition representatives. Hopefully the influx will be enough to galvanise those in the Party Room who disagree with the scheme into preventing it from becoming a reality.
Jake Zanoni blogs at http://pimpinforfreedom.wordpress.com/Dear Senator Humphries,
I am emailing you about the Coalition’s Paid Maternity Leave scheme announced today. My fiancee and I plan to have children sometime in the next 5-6 years and as such one could assume we are the demographic of voters that this scheme is designed to appeal to. Despite that however I wish to inform you of my strong opposition to this scheme.
It is true that I have a fundamental philosophical opposition to any form of compulsory maternity leave scheme (and the obligatory paragraph on that is forthcoming), however I believe that this scheme is practically flawed in that the funding aspect does not achieve its ostensible goals.
My understanding is the purpose of the levy on the ‘biggest businesses in Australia’ is so that the larger businesses (read: fat cat capitalist pig dogs) that can ‘afford it’ are the ones who bear the burden, leaving the rest of Australia unfettered.
The first problem with that line of thinking is that it relies on these businesses not simply incorporating the increased cost into their pricing. Economic theory and literature on this topic (looking at increases of the corporate tax, which would have the same economic effect) shows us that in response to this scheme, these businesses will raise prices. As such, it is not the fat cat that will pay for this scheme but the every day Australian individual that purchases the products and services of these businesses, who must now pay more.
In addition, we no longer live in a corporate environment where these large businesses are owned by the one stereotypical tycoon (the Rockefeller’s, Ford’s, and Monty Burns’ of the world). These big businesses are in fact owned by shareholders, many of whom are again the every day non wealthy Australian individual. People like my mother and step father. My friends. My colleagues. Myself. As part owners of these businesses it is us that will pay for this scheme through reduced profits, leading to reduced dividends.
Now to finish off with my obligatory libertarian rhetoric; my fiancee and I are hard working and proud people. We desire to have children and we make that choice understanding the consequences. We do not desire for the Government to initiate force on other individuals, so that our choices may be subsidised. If we are lucky enough to have the skills to negotiate maternity/paternity leave as part of our employment contracts, well we may indeed desire such a condition, however if we are not, we will make alternative arrangements. In addition we will voluntarily assist our fellow community members who fall on hard times, and have children that need care.
I am not unaware of the pain of growing up in a poor household. My father was poor as was my mother. My mother was a single parent from the time I was two to the time I was an adult and we lived through many times of hardship. I am intimately aware of the burden and cost that a child can be. I however refuse to endorse a system that uses force to place that burden on others.
If the Federal Coalition wishes to assist potential parents like my fiancee and myself YOU CAN! Decrease federal taxes. Decrease the size and scope of the federal government. Decrease the burdens of the bureaucracy. Leave us to live our lives as we choose. Fix the vertical fiscal imbalance by providing State Governments with the capacity to raise revenue in accordance with their responsibilities, and the ability to coordinate that revenue without Federal strings. Maintain a fiscal policy that does not provoke unneccessary and damaging monetary policy.
By focusing on the core liberal and conservative principles of small government, low taxes, and individual freedom, you can do far more for people like myself and my fiancee than any compulsory and poorly considered maternity leave scheme.
I hope you will consider my position on this matter as you and the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party go forth.
Yours sincerely,
Jake Zanoni
