Submissions

From: Maurice [maurice_swan@optusnet.com.au]

Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2005 6:18 PM

To: Family Responsibilities

Subject: Striking the balance

I think that both men and women should "work" 38 hrs a week in total for paid and unpaid work.



It would be ideal if there was...



A balance of inside and outside work between them.

50/50 - in the paid and unpaid work hours. ( Or as close to)

- in the parenting roles.

- in the caring roles



Probably the most important aspect is that they need to spend equal caring and leisure time

with their children. Because as you pointed out when partners separate difficulties occur.

Also after separation the partners can have the children for an equal amount of time, and not

as in most cases today where men have them on the weekends only.



BUT...I don't think you can tell people what to do. It is up to them.



They should sit down and work out who does what. (the balance of the NON-WORK time should

be spent on their own personal hobbys etc.and leisure time with their children and between themselves.



I enjoyed your paper. These issues are important and people need to be informed of them but

even if most of us agree with most of the issues, which I imagine would be the case, people cannot

be told what to do. They need to work it out for themselves.



Some form of legislation in assisting women and men to have the flexibility in implementing the way

they would like to strike this balance, would be useful.



Maurice Salomone.