Athony Albanese confirms paid parental leave will be extended to six months before Budget
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Anthony Albanese confirms that paid parental leave will be extended to six months as a ‘modern policy for modern families’ that will encourage women in the workforce
- Anthony Albanese has confirmed the government will extend paid parental leave
- The period of paid parental leave will be 26 weeks, from 18 weeks
- PM said policies are good for labor force participation and will support families
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Saturday that the government would increase paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks in a phased plan to be rolled out by July 2026.
Ultimately, all families with a new baby will have access to six months of leave shared by two parents and paid at the national minimum wage.
Single parents will be able to take the full 26 weeks, while leave will be made more flexible with parents able to take it in blocks between periods of paid work.
Mr Albanese said the policy change would support families and give them more choice.
“We know that investing in parental leave benefits our economy,” he said.
“It’s good for productivity and participation, it’s good for families and it’s good for our country as a whole.”
“We know that investing in parental leave benefits our economy,” said Anthony Albanese when he announced on Saturday that his Labor government would grant parents a full six months – 26 weeks – of paid parental leave (above)
Economic and business leaders say the plan will ensure more women stay in work after having children (above a mother’s stock)
Anthony Albanese confirmed rumors he would extend the duration of paid parental leave shortly after arriving at the NSW Labor conference (above)
Further details of the parental leave plan will be announced in the budget later this month.
Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the expanded scheme would help boost the economy by making it easier for parents to stay in work.
“We have long called for reform of the paid parental leave system, because giving new parents enough time off and encouraging equal care sharing is good for the economy and good for families,” she said.
ACTU Chair Michele O’Neil said the more generous leave arrangement was a big step forward for parents.
“Paid parental leave should be flexible and available to all parents, and this new arrangement is a big improvement in this regard,” she said.
But Ms O’Neil said the union would continue its campaign to pay parental leave at workers’ full replacement wages, including pensions.
The ACTU noted that Australia currently has one of the lowest paid parental leave plans in the world and a low level of shared parenting, placing women in undue burden of caring for children.
Prime Minister Albanian (above) said the plan will improve labor force participation and gender equality in workplaces, ‘more families are taking this leave, sharing that precious time and sharing care responsibilities more evenly’
Mr Albanese previously said he wanted the pension to be linked to paid parental leave but that this would not happen during Labour’s first term in government due to budget constraints.
The Prime Minister announced the plan at the NSW Labor conference.
“Our Labor government will provide the biggest boost to paid parental leave since its creation by the former Labor government in 2011,” he said.
By 2026, every family with a new baby will have access to a total of six months of paid leave, shared by the two parents. And single parents have access to all 26 weeks.
“Our plan will mean more families taking this leave, sharing that precious time and dividing care responsibilities more evenly. This plan supports fathers who want to take time off from work to be more involved in those early months. It’s a modern policy for modern families.’