✍️ 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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Ella B signed 2026-09-17 08:16:48 +1000
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Steph Murdoch signed 2026-09-17 07:36:37 +1000
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Lisa Dixon signed 2026-09-17 07:16:18 +1000
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Tracey Gibbs signed 2026-09-17 07:07:39 +1000I’m a Doter. Keep up the great work lads!
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Nicola Joseph signed 2026-09-17 06:30:31 +1000
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Carl von Bardeleben signed 2026-09-17 05:57:48 +1000
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Jaimie Lawrence signed 2026-09-17 05:28:47 +1000Another proud doter that wishes that her husband could have spent more time with us during the hardest transition and not miss out on so many milestones.
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Jazmin Virgo signed 2026-09-17 03:14:13 +1000Doter! Highly support this especially after having c section and husband unable to have enough time off
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Kristy Huggett signed via Amber Wilson 2026-09-16 22:48:54 +1000
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Tina Thomas signed 2026-09-16 22:43:21 +1000
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Amber Wilson signed 2026-09-16 22:08:43 +1000It’s so hard on mums having to stay home alone with a newborn when they have just gone through an intense physical experience
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Aimee Burrows signed 2026-09-16 22:07:49 +1000
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Kate Deegan signed 2026-09-16 22:06:12 +1000Well done doting dads!
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Stacey Lockyer signed 2026-09-16 22:05:30 +1000Doter!
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Sarah Noble signed 2026-09-16 21:40:08 +1000
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Courtney Phillips signed 2026-09-16 21:29:20 +1000
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Tayla Blackwell signed 2026-09-16 21:17:10 +1000
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Charlie Mitchell signed 2026-09-16 21:16:53 +1000Doter
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donna miller signed 2026-09-16 21:13:22 +1000
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Selina Stimson signed 2026-09-16 20:56:18 +1000I am a doter
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Cameron Arlington signed 2026-09-16 20:52:49 +1000
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Sarah Cartwright followed this page 2026-09-16 20:48:50 +1000
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Sarah Cartwright signed 2026-09-16 20:48:21 +1000Proud doting mum!! Highly support this
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Taylah Liaropoulos signed 2026-09-16 20:47:38 +1000
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Harrison King signed 2026-09-16 20:47:02 +1000
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Renee Staehr signed 2026-09-16 20:35:25 +1000
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Lydia Brewer signed 2026-09-16 20:18:58 +1000
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Shené Parry signed 2026-09-16 20:06:17 +1000
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Kirsty Willen signed 2026-09-16 20:05:27 +1000
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Laura Fletcher signed 2026-09-16 19:48:30 +1000Proud doter amd I support this