✍️ 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 took that case to Parliament House.
Here For It. From Day One.
Read the new ‘More Time’ With Dad report
People who have signed the petition
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Beth Miller signed 2026-09-23 21:08:47 +1000
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Nathan Quarry signed 2026-09-23 21:06:15 +1000I agree with everything thing the CEO has said.
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Cassandra Lar signed 2026-09-23 20:54:35 +1000
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Megan Abbott signed 2026-09-23 20:45:51 +1000
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Hailee Love signed 2026-09-23 20:42:49 +1000
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Madeleine Carter signed 2026-09-23 20:39:56 +1000
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Kimberly Taylor signed 2026-09-23 20:34:08 +1000
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Mm McCloud signed 2026-09-23 20:32:57 +1000I’ve long held the belief that recent Australian Society has morphed into a cesspit of undervaluing the most valuable, consistent and ancient act of being human : making families.
Structurally challenging the policies and narratives our world has adopted at the cost of building families is a necessary task. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for speaking out and setting this right. -
Angela Danilis signed 2026-09-23 20:32:42 +1000
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Alex signed 2026-09-23 20:28:30 +1000
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Zoe Bertuzzi signed 2026-09-23 19:00:38 +1000
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Claire Outtram signed 2026-09-23 18:19:44 +1000
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Laurence Higham signed 2026-09-23 18:07:58 +1000
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