✍️ 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
-
Amelia Berwick signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 19:15:27 +1000
-
Taylor Brooks signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 19:10:10 +1000
-
Marty Morrice signed 2026-07-30 19:06:14 +1000
-
Emma Walsh signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 18:48:28 +1000
-
Ben Walsh signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 18:28:11 +1000
-
Chelsea Mcloughlin signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 18:13:17 +1000
-
Sam Cumming signed 2026-07-30 18:06:26 +1000
-
Tess Rafferty signed 2026-07-30 18:05:30 +1000
-
Megan Mavris signed 2026-07-30 17:34:01 +1000
-
Aaron Au signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:52:00 +1000
-
Ellen signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:46:07 +1000
-
Britney Blake signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:44:25 +1000
-
Taylor Granchi signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:36:35 +1000
-
Helen Walker-Cook signed 2026-07-30 16:29:46 +1000
-
Josie Blanchard signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:25:15 +1000
-
Frances Boseley-Abela signed 2026-07-30 16:13:14 +1000
-
Annaleise Osborne signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:12:55 +1000
-
Shona Neven signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 16:05:35 +1000
-
Christina Convey signed 2026-07-30 15:52:29 +1000Great cause
-
Renee Reed signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:49:01 +1000
-
Marco Tribi signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:43:50 +1000
-
Emmanuel Platsis signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:41:15 +1000
-
Lisa-rose Gregory signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:02:57 +1000
-
Michelle Badek signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:02:56 +1000BRILLIANT! As a small business owner and someone who wants to start a family in the next few years, this is great. Our industry needs more support!
-
Stephanie Schrader signed 2026-07-30 15:02:09 +1000
-
Alexander Brown signed 2026-07-30 14:55:29 +1000Awesome initiative! Keep pushing!
-
Gabriel Presutto signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:54:52 +1000
-
Isabella Melville signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:53:10 +1000
-
Kate Southwell signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:50:13 +1000
-
Jaine Eira signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:48:45 +1000