In a speech for International Women’s Day yesterday, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced his intention to offer six months’ paid leave for parents of newborns, funded by a $2.7 billion tax on big companies.

Said big companies were predictably unimpressed with the plan, with the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry all slamming the “big new tax”, while the ACTU has called bullshit — and even Abbott’s colleagues think he’s taking the piss, according to Samantha Maiden in The Oz:

“Its a typical 1930s socialist impost on big business, designed to relieve the government of meetings its responsibilities to provide paid maternity leave to the women of Australia,” a Liberal politician tersely dictated. “But it’s your policy,” I whispered.

“Oh”, he said, laughing, “Well, that’s all off the record.”

But will it be a winner with Rudd’s “working families”? Here’s how the pundits are calling it:

The Australian

Editorial: A pitch to ‘working families’

In carving out another point of difference with the government, Mr Abbott has set his sights on Mr Rudd’s “working families”.

Samantha Maiden: Tony keeping mum on his big new tax

… let’s not saddle the women of the nation with a policy that’s just too dumb to fly.

The Age

Michelle Grattan: Abbott lets fly from left field … and gets caught out

Tony Abbott, who desperately needs to build up ”cred” with business, has done himself harm with his left-field proposal for an extra tax on bigger companies to pay for his parental leave plan.

Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher: Tony, this is the mother of irresponsible policymaking

This is reckless, irresponsible, unprincipled ad hockery that will not help women to a better deal.

Herald Sun

Phillip Hudson: Consistency concern for converted ladies’ man Tony Abbott

He has three daughters who may confront this great juggling act, and Abbott wants better options for them.

Daily Telegraph

Editorial: The real value of parenting

Business objections aside, the Abbott plan is worth examining.

Gold Coast Bulletin

Editorial: The mother of all levies for business

For such a landmark policy, we would expect more detail and more contingency.

Elsewhere…

Babble Australia: Amber Robinson: Abbott proposes six months’ paid parental leave

For middle-to-higher income earning women, this policy is vastly preferable to the Rudd government’s option, which only offers leave at minimum wage levels … I’m sure we’d all appreciate more time off too.

Larvatus Prodeo: Mark Bahnisch: Abbott’s parental leave non-policy

Abbott’s rhetoric is very much a bob each way, with a few sops thrown out to those who might be sceptical about the big government nature of this idea

The Punch: Tory Maguire: Abbott’s parent plan could pit women against each other

I would be uncomfortable with the government paying me more or less than the woman sitting next to me at work.