But, until measures such as paid maternity leave become law and the gender pay gap closes, unless we are content for our sick or elderly parents to fend for themselves or for women to have no option but to send their children to crèche before they can even crawl – then it’s time to start thinking creatively about how our system including our superannuation system might be changed to give women –- a better deal.

Paid maternity leave is definitely a step in the right direction. Let’s hope that the current financial crisis doesn’t mean that the Productivity Commission recommendations are put in the bottom drawer and forgotten about. Forever being the optimist, that I am, I hope that the Government in its review of the adequacy of retirement incomes takes further measures to assist women, and other low paid workers to retire with dignity. AIST will certainly be advocating for a range of measures in its submission to the Government.