✍️ 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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Katie Rajasingham signed 2026-08-12 18:30:43 +1000If there is anything other than money that you need for help or advocacy I volunteer!
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Angus Collins signed 2026-08-11 13:13:12 +1000
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Andrew Roberts signed 2026-08-11 10:24:28 +1000More paid leave to parents is critical to the country and families
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Maddie Hooley signed 2026-08-09 17:42:10 +1000
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Jessica Ngo-Jessy signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-07 14:06:06 +1000
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Michael Cotter signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-07 10:53:03 +1000
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Ellen Rosengren-Johnson signed 2026-08-07 10:18:52 +1000
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Lauren Crisara signed 2026-08-07 10:16:30 +1000
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Vanessa Babayen-on signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-07 00:40:34 +1000
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Kendell Coombe signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-06 18:07:53 +1000
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Daniel O'Kane signed 2026-08-05 22:12:11 +1000
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Emily Hodson signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 21:16:06 +1000
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Ash Parnham signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 19:12:08 +1000
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Kitty Gardner signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 17:16:11 +1000
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Nadine Ashton signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 16:08:52 +1000
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Ben Ellis signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 15:07:18 +1000Kids benefit from having parents who are thriving and able to make choices. Right now, parents are cutting their parental leave short because of financial pressures, not because of what they feel is best for them or their new baby. The dilemma parents face (be with child or live in insecurity) reinforces rigid gender roles that most people agree are outdated, so let’s get rid of the dilemma.
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Emily Ensor signed 2026-08-05 15:00:53 +1000
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Andy signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 14:57:49 +1000
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Hannah Boulton signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 14:42:36 +1000
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Nathan Charles signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 14:29:19 +1000
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Ebony Lennon signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 14:28:36 +1000
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Sebastian Child signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 13:51:51 +1000
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Joey Tai signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 13:17:02 +1000
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Philippa Canavan signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 11:54:19 +1000
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Brittany Gardiner signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 10:15:08 +1000
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Chris Hysted-Adams signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 07:36:35 +1000
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Sean Jeppsen signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 07:07:09 +1000
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Mel Hack signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 02:53:26 +1000
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Esha Patkar signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 01:41:47 +1000
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Rebekka Meyers signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-08-05 00:17:34 +1000