What’s more, there is a similar motherhood penalty even when a woman is the primary earner in a household.

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The economic consequences of the motherhood penalty are far-reaching.

Gender disparities in the way households allocate essential tasks were exposed during the pandemic. Treasury estimates that in response to pandemic-induced school closures, mothers with school-aged children reduced their working hours by 1.4 per cent on average, but there was no meaningful change for fathers.

A recent Bureau of Statistics survey of time use found female parents spent about 75 minutes more per day caring for children than male parents.

All these findings underscore how gender norms are a powerful driver of caring patterns in households, and how difficult they are to shift. An Ipsos survey conducted this year found almost one in three Australian men and one in seven Australian women agreed with the statement “gender inequality doesn’t really exist”.

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The push for gender equality is too often framed as a woman’s issue rather than one for both sexes. Effective inducements for men to share the unpaid care load will be needed in future budgets if Labor’s vision for gender equality is to be achieved.

Fathers are an obvious target. Research by Melbourne University academics Brendan Churchill and Lyn Craig shows attitudes towards fatherhood, and working fathers, have shifted a lot over the past two decades. There is now “considerable support for men’s greater involvement in the care of their children and the ability of working fathers to care for their children”, they write. “Which bodes well for the creation and maintenance of workplaces that foster and encourage greater take-up of paid parental leave for fathers.”

And yet, the financial incentives for fathers to take a significant period of leave after the birth of a child are meagre. Even after Labor’s extension to paid parental leave, which promises greater flexibility, Australia will still rank among the bottom third for parental leave entitlements when compared with the wealthy-country members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

On this point, Labor’s political rhetoric is not matched by action. If Australia is to become a global leader in gender equality, it needs to be a leader in paid parental leave, not a straggler. The scheme must also include strong incentives for men to spend more time caring for small children.

The evidence from European countries shows that when fathers spend a significant period caring for new babies they will divide work and care more equally with their partner as children grow older. So, we know government policy can shift the behaviour of fathers.

But workplaces also have a role to play in allowing fathers to be more involved with their children. Past research has shown many Australian fathers feel uncomfortable asking for parental leave, or more flexible work hours, for fear their career will be affected.

Gender equality is now a national priority. Labor will need to get men on board to make it a reality.

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