One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has clarified her controversial remarks on paid parental leave after appearing to oppose it during her first National Press Club address.
Less than a fortnight out from the latest expansion of the benefit, which will go up to 26 weeks, the Queensland Senator had suggested women should not be paid by employers while on maternity leave.
Senator Hanson had stated “if women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they’re not working, fair enough. Why should business pay? But they’re not at work”.
However, on Tuesday, she walked the statement back and insisted she had been “taken out of context” after the address last week.
“There’s no way, shape or form that I am actually saying to get rid of it,” she told Sunrise.
“I think it’s been very beneficial to women to get back into the workforce. So that was totally taken completely out of context.
“It’s up to companies if they want to have it in their policy to give it to their workers.
“There are businesses that cannot afford it. It’s OK for government, taxpayers pay for it.”
It comes as eligible families will be able to access up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave on July 1 as part of a phased plan by the federal government to better support working families.
The scheme had increased to 22 weeks in 2022, 24 weeks in 2025 before it’s slated to reach 26 weeks from July this year.
Under this next stage, four weeks of the total leave pool will be reserved for the secondary partner.
While the changes are government funded and won’t cost employees more, it could mean longer staff absences.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has argued that Labor’s plan would give parents “more time, more money, and more people eligible”.
“The first months with a new baby are precious. My Government is making it easier for parents to spend that time together. That’s why we’re expanding Paid Parental Leave again from July 1, giving parents more time at home with their newborn and more support when they need it most,” the PM said.
“It was Labor that created paid parental leave, and it’s Labor that’s continuing to strengthen it for Australian families.
“This is good for business, good for families and good for our economy.”
Parents receiving paid parental leave will have a higher rate of $1,004.70 per week from July 1, while more people will be eligible as the annual income limits rise.
Women’s Minister Katy Gallagher said Australia women were “at the heart of our priorities” and the changes were about making the scheme “stronger, fairer and better suited to the way modern families share care”.
More information on new payment rates and thresholds is available on the Department of Social Services website.
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