"There's a huge cost barrier to using nannies, because it's not tax deductible" ... Fiona Balfour.

"There's a huge cost barrier to using nannies, because it's not tax deductible" ... Fiona Balfour. Photo: Louie Douvis

WHY don't we have a nanny culture in Australia? Because of cost, culture and tradition, prominent woman say.

In a week where the federal government committed to appointing more women to government boards, company director Carolyn Hewson says a key factor hampering women's climb up the corporate ladder is the lack of a ''nanny culture'' in Australia.