Working Families

Let’s be clear about this. Let’s be absolutely, crystal clear. The reality is that politicians use clichés. Don’t let the other side try every trick in the book to cloud the issue.

And can I say this: as with many decent, hard-working Australians, I find it understandable when politicians fall into using the same-old, same-old patterns of words, time and time again. Only politicians use short sentences. And they pause for effect. And they use rhetorical devices.

With all due respect, some politicians will categorically deny these allegations. Some will say this is a fishing expedition. Some will question the timing of these accusations. And of course, some will decline to comment, saying that it’s a private matter. 

Continue reading "We’re not out of the woods when it comes to pols’ cliches" »

Do you remember what Wayne Swan said in his 2007-08 Budget speech?

I bet you do. And in intricate detail.

It went something like this: “Working families, working families, working-families—working-families—working-families—working-families! Working-families, working-families-working-families—working-families—working-families—working-families, Mr Speaker.”

Continue reading "Uh-oh, time for another round of “working families”" »

So, at last, and hopefully once and for all, women in the workplace no longer have to regard being a mother as some kind of dirty little secret.

Thanks to the frankness of Tanya Plibersek and Julie Collins, the idea that working mothers need to somehow disguise or apologise for their maternal status has been blown to smithereens. I, for one, am rapt.

News of this welcome development came in simple form last week; a single-sentence intro on a plain old news story, but one that felt a whole lot like a turning point.

Continue reading "Don’t keep Mum about being a working parent" »