Women Deserve Respect, Not Regulation
Pregnancy, loss, and parenthood are deeply tied to survival, compassion, and trust—not exploitation. The recent debate around proposed amendments to Paid Parental Leave in the Fair Work Act sparked criticism from several Coalition MPs, including Andrew Hastie, Barnaby Joyce, Tony Pasin, and Henry Pike. They voiced what they called “concerns” and highlighted possible “unintended consequences” of the Bill.
Criticism from Coalition MPs
As a woman and mother, I observed these four white men speak in Parliament with what appeared more like performative outrage than sincere concern.
- Tony Pasin argued that paid parental leave should be available to parents and those intending to become parents but “shouldn’t be available to people who don’t wish to be parents.” This suggests an assumption that women might exploit the system, which is not only offensive but shows ignorance about the realities of pregnancy and loss.
- Henry Pike questioned whether the Bill’s eligibility might extend to stillbirth cases following late-term abortion, saying,
“I hope that is not the case and I hope within this bill we are not including that.”
Personal Perspective on Pregnancy Challenges
I am confident speaking for most women when I say: WTF. Every pregnancy pushed my body to its limits. For example, during my third pregnancy, relentless vomiting caused me to lose 8 kilos in just two months and didn’t subside until the day I gave birth.
Women deserve respect, not regulation, because pregnancy, loss and parenthood are about survival, compassion and trust, not exploitation.
Author's summary: This critique exposes how male politicians’ skepticism about parental leave overlooks the intense physical and emotional realities women face during pregnancy and loss.