Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne sharply criticised the government’s proposed Family Leave Bill, warning that its 12-month minimum employment requirement for maternity and paternity leave would “punish” women and men who change jobs or enter the workforce, rather than protect families.
Thorne, MP for Christ Church South, accused lawmakers of prioritising “commerce over biology” in parliamentary debate, demanding urgent changes to clauses he described as outdated, unjust, and lacking compassion.
Thorne took aim at Section 4(3) and Section 5(5), which stipulate that employees seeking leave must have worked for their current employer for at least 12 months. He called this “biology meeting commerce, and commerce triumphs”, insisting the law should approach pregnancy and parenting leave with “dignity and respect”.
Thorne criticised the government’s rationale by highlighting cases such as a woman grappling with infertility, or someone newly hired and expecting a third child, who would be summarily disqualified from statutory leave “because the request is not between the employee and the government, but between the employee and her private employer”.
He pressed Minister of Labour Colin Jordan to “revisit the draughtsman, revisit his advisers, revisit those who shape and formulate social policy”, branding the provision “a fairly unkind” one for women and for men.
Thorne also hammered Section 11(2), which proposes criminal penalties — a fine of $10 000 or up to 24 months’ imprisonment, or both — if applicants provide false information regarding leave eligibility. He denounced the prospect of criminalising “the exchange of information by a hapless applicant for leave”, and challenged the principle of treating new parents seeking benefits as potential offenders.
“Where is the crime? Where is the criminal intent? Where is the mens rea [criminal intent] or the actus reus [criminal act]?” Thorne asked, calling for the removal of the clause. (JB)
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