✍️ Add your name to give every baby the first year they deserve.
A baby's first year lays the foundation for the rest of their life.
On 1 July, Australia expanded paid parental leave to 26 weeks, with four of those weeks reserved for fathers and partners. That was a genuine win, and it was hard fought.
Four weeks is a start. It isn't a finish.
The scheme is paid at minimum wage — around half what an average full-time worker earns. For most families it doesn't stretch to a year, and it doesn't stretch to two parents.
So instead of choosing how they want to share their baby's first year, parents are forced to make financial decisions. One parent stays home. The other goes back to work. Patterns that last for years are set before families ever had a real choice.
To be clear about something: this is not leave taken from mums. It's leave added for dads. Every week a father is home in that first year is a week a mother isn't doing it alone.
Dads are main characters in family life, not cameos. It's time our policy settings said so.
It doesn't have to be this way.
The Parenthood is campaigning for 12 months of paid parental leave at a replacement wage, with dedicated leave for both parents, so every family can afford to share their baby's first year.
On Monday 7 September, dads, kids and supporters are taking that case to Parliament House. We want your name on the list we hand over.
Here For It. From Day One.
Read the new ‘More Time’ With Dad report
People who have signed the petition
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Max Costello signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-26 18:35:42 +1000
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Christie Nolan signed 2026-08-26 17:14:36 +1000
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Ebonie Elliot signed 2026-08-26 11:20:09 +1000
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chloe karakitsos signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-26 09:16:38 +1000
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Jasmine Howells signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-22 09:36:51 +1000
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Dayenny Quintanilha De Souza signed 2026-08-14 18:04:38 +1000
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Marie-Brigitte Mitchell signed 2026-08-14 15:32:30 +1000
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Fay Calderone signed 2026-08-14 15:31:18 +1000Thank you for all you are doing to make the future a little easier for parents around Australia!
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Dana Weston signed 2026-08-14 14:59:04 +1000
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