✍️ 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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Zoe Preston signed via Elektra Hart 2026-09-17 14:09:26 +1000
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Michelle Webster signed 2026-09-17 14:00:11 +1000
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Jamie signed 2026-09-17 13:21:05 +1000
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Kate Gallagher signed 2026-09-17 13:13:49 +1000
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Eliza Lamb signed 2026-09-17 13:07:32 +1000
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Marion Cripps Clark signed 2026-09-17 13:04:56 +1000
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Taya Elliott signed 2026-09-17 12:37:13 +1000
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Ellie Sampson signed 2026-09-17 12:36:04 +1000
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Katie Chiment signed 2026-09-17 12:16:23 +1000
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Tayla Castles signed 2026-09-17 12:15:49 +1000
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Regina Hart signed via Elektra Hart 2026-09-17 11:46:51 +1000
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Rebekah A signed 2026-09-17 11:44:00 +1000
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Amanda Chow signed 2026-09-17 11:37:12 +1000
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Joel Pirotta signed 2026-09-17 11:13:15 +1000
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Kevin Griffin signed 2026-09-17 11:01:36 +1000
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Hannah Ben-M’rad signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-17 10:56:15 +1000
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Fleur Wackett signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-17 10:55:35 +1000
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Hannah Bangah signed 2026-09-17 10:48:52 +1000
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Sarah Anastasio signed 2026-09-17 10:44:50 +1000
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Tylee signed 2026-09-17 10:41:52 +1000YES!
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Elektra Hart signed 2026-09-17 10:35:21 +1000Proud doter who thinks all parents deserve more paid leave to spend time with their baby!
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Rebecca Harper signed 2026-09-17 10:12:35 +1000
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Darcie Bridge signed 2026-09-17 10:01:00 +1000Two doting dads
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Gaynor Saegenschnitter signed 2026-09-17 10:00:07 +1000Proud Doter here!
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Chelsea Costello signed 2026-09-17 09:52:18 +1000Another Doter! This would’ve made a huge difference to the first year with our kids.
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Sara Thomas signed 2026-09-17 09:43:33 +1000Doting Dad’s podcast fan.
Paternity leave would benefit so many families -
Courtney Signor signed 2026-09-17 09:31:53 +1000
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Courtney Stewart signed 2026-09-17 09:13:33 +1000A proud Doter who would have greatly benefitted from having my Husband home with me during the new born phase 🤞
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B Robertson signed 2026-09-17 09:08:52 +1000
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Nicole Herreen signed 2026-09-17 09:05:18 +1000