✍️ 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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Jessica Tanna signed 2026-07-15 21:43:09 +1000
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Lauren Turner signed 2026-07-15 20:33:05 +1000
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Barbara Rodrigo signed via Tara McLennan 2026-07-15 10:54:31 +1000
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Sara Navarro Arnedo signed via Tara McLennan 2026-07-15 10:36:43 +1000
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Melinda Gambley signed 2026-07-15 10:17:50 +1000
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Tara McLennan signed 2026-07-15 09:56:35 +1000
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Alison Hallworth signed 2026-07-15 08:48:31 +1000
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Marita T signed 2026-07-14 17:52:14 +1000
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Cathy Milwidsky signed 2026-07-14 14:38:43 +1000Babies need their parents in the first year of their lives – and when we honour this, we offer the best possible future for Australia!
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Nick Haydon signed 2026-07-14 14:32:00 +1000
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Miranda Lacey signed 2026-07-13 21:30:10 +1000
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Matthew O'Rourke signed 2026-07-13 17:00:54 +1000Its such an important time for mums, dads and bubs!! We should be prioritising stronger connections and more time together is the only thing that allows for it!
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Sebastian Costello signed 2026-07-13 11:04:34 +1000I love this!! More time with bub and more time for dads to care.
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Lauren Morphett signed 2026-07-09 07:08:05 +1000
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Jen Lofgren signed 2026-07-08 12:22:48 +1000
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Catherine Liddle signed 2026-07-08 08:26:40 +1000
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Debi Bannerman signed 2026-07-06 11:45:43 +1000
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Louise Weine signed 2026-07-05 16:42:30 +1000
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Caitlin Ireland signed 2026-07-03 20:02:51 +1000
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Paul Crittenden signed 2026-07-03 11:11:15 +1000
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Sandra Gale signed 2026-07-03 10:10:36 +1000
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Ali Killaly signed 2026-07-02 19:25:09 +1000The first year with a child is so important for that little person and their family and it should be supported for all parents with government funded paid parental leave.
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Tahlija Macdonald signed 2026-07-02 18:54:24 +1000
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Miranda Pugh signed 2026-07-02 17:02:48 +1000
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Sal Daina signed 2026-07-02 15:40:49 +1000
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Ellie Gough signed 2026-07-02 15:35:24 +1000
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David McMaster signed 2026-07-02 13:47:18 +1000
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Izzy Manfield signed 2026-07-02 13:34:20 +1000With no minimum paid parental leave in the Fair Work Act 2009, many parents will rely on the scheme as their only paid leave once they have their baby.
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Greg Kimball signed 2026-07-02 13:27:37 +1000
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Laura Wright signed 2026-07-02 13:14:54 +1000