Amanda Rishworth is introducing a bill to the parliament that will stop employers from being able to cancel maternity/paternity leave in the event of a stillbirth or an early infant death.
It has been sparked by the case of Baby Priya, who was born three months early and lived for 42 days before passing. Priya’s mother (she has been asked not to be identified) rang her employer of 11 years to tell her of the loss, and then soon after received a text message telling her her three months maternity leave had been cancelled and she was only allowed four weeks paid personal leave.
You can read more about Baby Priya and her family’s shock, here.
Every workplace law has been put in place after workers suffered. When people speak of wanting to ‘cut redtape’ or ‘regulations’ they are talking about things like this, where humanity is NOT automatically applied and people are reduced to their productivity ability, no matter their circumstances.
Priya’s parents met with Anthony Albanese and Rishworth ahead of the bill’s introduction. They have had to fight for all workers, while grieving the loss of their daughter. That they have needed to should be a national shame.
1 Comment
I feel disgusted that the employers email wasn't an invitation to discuss the devastated mother's needs, rather than an announcement of how leave would be handled.