Australia's paid parental leave scheme is being wound back to hurt working women when it should be improved, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner says.
Elizabeth Broderick believes too many women will be disadvantaged by the Abbott government's planned crackdown on so-called "double dippers", which puts limits on new parents accessing both the government scheme and employer provided leave.
Ms Broderick said the changes will undermine the current scheme, which was designed in the knowledge that at least 50 per cent of working women would be able to access parental leave paid by their employer.
"What we need to do is improve the scheme over time and not take it back," she told a CEDA lunch in Brisbane on Monday.
"The amendments that are proposed will actually mean that the 50 per cent of women who do have access to an employer funded scheme will be worse off than they currently are.
"It has the potential to affect a lot of women."
Ms Broderick, who will step down from her role next month, was asked whether businesses would, in 10 to 15 years, view employer paid leave as good for business or a bitter pill to swallow.
She said social change was needed to bring about positive change for mothers in the workplace.
"One social norm is that here we believe in Australia that the ideal worker is someone who is available 24/7 with no or little caring responsibilities and, as a result of that, is most likely male," she said.
"The other is a good mother belief. If you were born and educated in Australia you believe a good mother is always with their children.
"Well we know good mothers come in all shapes and sizes, just like good dads."
Ms Broderick has written a submission to a Senate inquiry into the proposed parental leave changes, labelling them as retrogressive and inconsistent with Australia's international human rights obligations.
She says the government's rationale that its plans to put more money into subsidising childcare, a measure yet to be put to parliament, doesn't justify its crackdown.
But Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said it was extraordinary the Human Rights Commission considers the paid parental leave changes as a priority issue.
All the Abbott government was doing, he said, was ensuring its welfare system focused on those most in need.
