‘There’s no way’: Pauline Hanson backflips on paid parental leave stance

Pauline Hanson has walked back her statement that suggested she would scrap paid parental leave as Labor accuses the One Nation leader of not understanding the policy.

Hanson raised eyebrows during her National Press Club address last Wednesday when she appeared to criticise paid parental leave, questioning why businesses should pay for women who take time off.

“If women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they’re not working, fair enough. Why should business pay?” she said.

“But they’re not at work. That’s the difference. That’s why the pay gap is there.”

Speaking to Sunrise this morning, Hanson changed her tone and said it was up to companies if they want to give workers paid parental leave.

“There’s no way, shape, or form that I am actually saying to get rid of it. I’ve seen it’s been very beneficial to women to get back in the workforce,” she said.

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Shortly after, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek told the Sydney Morning Herald Hanson did not understand how paid parental leave worked.

“Hanson has said multiple times over almost a decade she doesn’t support paid parental leave,” she said.

“Obviously, Australian families have told her they want it and now she’s claiming she was taken out of context.

“But Senator Hanson is wrong, small business don’t need to force their workers to choose between career and family.

“Paid parental leave is taxpayer funded for all eligible families, whether they are self-employed, work for a small business or the biggest companies.”

The government protects paid parental leave for all eligible parents under its scheme, which is paid for by the taxpayer.

Parents are given 120 days or 24 weeks of paid leave at the minimum wage of $948.10 per week.

Under the federal budget, the government has increased that to 130 days or 26 weeks.

Eligible employees are also legally entitled to 12 months of unpaid leave with their job protected under the National Employment Standards.

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The Workplace Gender Equality Agency believes paid parental leave helps bridge the gender inequality gap.

“Parental leave policies are designed to support and protect working parents around the time of childbirth or adoption of a child and when children are young,” the agency says on its website.

“The availability of paid parental leave for each parent fosters a more equal division of unpaid care and paid work, improving the family work-life balance.”