✍️ 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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Christina Convey signed 2026-07-30 15:52:29 +1000Great cause
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Renee Reed signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:49:01 +1000
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Marco Tribi signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:43:50 +1000
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Emmanuel Platsis signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:41:15 +1000
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Lisa-rose Gregory signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 15:02:57 +1000
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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!
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Stephanie Schrader signed 2026-07-30 15:02:09 +1000
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Alexander Brown signed 2026-07-30 14:55:29 +1000Awesome initiative! Keep pushing!
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Gabriel Presutto signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:54:52 +1000
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Isabella Melville signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:53:10 +1000
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Kate Southwell signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:50:13 +1000
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Jaine Eira signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:48:45 +1000
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Erika Andersen signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-30 14:45:07 +1000
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Ruth Marie Engelbrecht signed 2026-07-30 14:23:18 +1000
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errol firminger signed via errol firminger 2026-07-30 13:32:51 +1000The first year is important " GROUNDING"
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David Jacob signed 2026-07-30 13:24:51 +1000
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Justine McClymont signed 2026-07-30 11:07:59 +1000
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Teagen Elsley signed 2026-07-30 11:03:31 +1000
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Diana Dean signed 2026-07-30 09:33:55 +1000
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Shelby Zappia Buhlman signed 2026-07-30 08:50:11 +1000
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Karis Dorrigan signed via Georgie Dent 2026-07-30 07:54:49 +1000Now is the time to start to really support families and parents with a system that helps us achieve ambition alongside our time with kids
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Luana Viana signed via Georgie Dent 2026-07-29 19:54:31 +1000
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Stacey R signed 2026-07-29 19:09:18 +1000
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Hannah Mijovski signed via Georgie Dent 2026-07-29 18:59:51 +1000
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Latia Clift signed 2026-07-29 17:29:12 +1000
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Vanessa Northcott signed 2026-07-29 17:23:42 +1000
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Olive Edwards signed 2026-07-29 17:11:12 +1000Babies need their mums and sometimes dads with them for a secure, lifelong attachment. It’s a crucial window you can’t get back.
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Caitlin Crowe signed 2026-07-29 14:39:16 +1000
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Ebony-Barbra Carter signed 2026-07-29 14:23:29 +1000
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Sarah Cooper signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-07-29 13:37:57 +1000