[EBeditor]

Essential Baby is thrilled to be given an audience with the Prime Minister this Friday.

We'll be visiting Kirribilli house to talk about what Australian women want and we'd like to pass on as many as your comments and questions as possible.

We're absolutely thrilled that Essential Baby has been recognised as a key venue for Australian women to chat and share their thoughts and opinions.

So tell me - what is keeping you up at night? Where could the government offer more assistance to help women and families?

Keep your replies constructive please - this is your chance to be heard.

[71Cath]

Recognise gay marriage please - yesterday if possible...

[Steggles]

Recognise gay marriage please - yesterday if possible...

+1

[Dabri]

Recognise gay marriage please - yesterday if possible...

+2

[CherryAmes]

Hmm, I think it would be great for breastfeeding if mothers were helped to stay at home for at least the first six month, so it would be great if paid parental leave was extended.

It would also be great if there was a special carers allowance which allowed a parent of a child with a diagnosed disability to stay at home. If your child has cancer, or a significant disability, it is impossible for both parents to work. At present, the special carer's payment is only available for older children, not parents of young children.

[Mrs Manager]

Do more to assist working parents with the cost of childcare, without means testing it, or at least without means testing it at the low level they usually consider appropriate

[farfaraway]

There is a chronic shortage of childcare places. Navigating the childcare system is a nightmare.

[joy6328]

The creation of more child care centres or child care spots. The ability for Private Nannies to be claimable on tax or to be able to be used instead of Child Care Centres.

[gemgirl]

Another vote for gay marriage - as a lesbian parent, I'd love it if my kids could see that our relationship is equal. My partner and I are in love, supportive and have a great relationship. We had a commitment ceremony, but haven't bothered with a civil union - we want to be married, please Julia. It's not just a piece of paper that we want, it's equal recognition. This is so important.

Also, I would like more support for high income families. The baby bonus and maternity leave is now means tested, family tax benefits A and B are means tested, etc etc. Yet high income families work hard and pay huge taxes. I know people in Government housing and on single parent benefits that appear to have more disposable income than high income families. This is not a popular issue for debate on EB (or in society), but it's an important issue for many voters. I feel that the Government is increasingly reducing support to high income families, such as the baby bonus/maternity leave which wasn't means tested before now. I just feel we shouldn't be penalising people for what they earn. I think a baby bonus should be on offer to all families, given the objective is to get people to have more children for the country's growth. High income people need that financial support, too, in order to take time off work. Given the contributions high income earners make to the country, I think it's time to offer them a little bit of support, too.

And now they're means testing private health insurance rebates, too! Enough surely is enough! Keep your high income workers motivated by supporting them, please.

This post has been edited by gemgirl: 13/06/2012, 02:48 PM

[Cath-In-SA]

The ability for Private Nannies to be claimable on tax or to be able to be used instead of Child Care Centres.

+1