✍️ 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 Wasley signed 2026-09-13 20:33:38 +1000
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Grace Lompranos signed 2026-09-13 20:32:42 +1000
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Annalise Etchell signed 2026-09-13 20:31:18 +1000That Dad and baby bond is so important.
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Stephanie Sutherland signed 2026-09-13 20:31:16 +1000
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Antonia McLean signed 2026-09-13 20:22:45 +1000
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Angela Chiaramonte signed 2026-09-13 20:17:34 +1000
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Jessica Laker signed 2026-09-13 20:15:47 +1000
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Ben Fabbro signed 2026-09-13 20:15:01 +1000
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Sam Jahns signed 2026-09-13 20:12:47 +1000
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Carla Mico signed 2026-09-13 20:09:24 +1000
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Krystal Simmons signed 2026-09-13 20:01:08 +1000My husband had fantastic leave with his work and it made such a difference for our family postpartum. Ever family deserves the extra time to settle into their new chapter. 4 weeks doesn’t even cover the recovery time for driving if a mum has had a cesarean.
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Patrice Moriarty signed 2026-09-13 20:00:17 +1000
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Megan Simms signed 2026-09-13 19:58:55 +1000
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Claudia King signed 2026-09-13 19:57:41 +1000
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Hannah Masterson signed 2026-09-13 19:50:38 +1000
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Rochelle Jorgensen signed 2026-09-13 19:49:29 +1000
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Katarina Addicoat signed 2026-09-13 19:47:38 +1000
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James Crumpton signed 2026-09-13 15:59:34 +1000Great initiative, I was lucky enough to have 3 months parental leave but everyone should deserve the opportunity to spend that time with their family.
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Ali Killaly signed 2026-09-13 12:45:59 +1000
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Amy Whyte signed 2026-09-13 11:04:24 +1000
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Tina Nolimaio signed 2026-09-13 09:22:11 +1000
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Grace Perry signed 2026-09-13 06:42:03 +1000
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Ryan Shields signed 2026-09-13 05:46:18 +1000
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Jessica Walton signed 2026-09-13 05:30:09 +1000
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Miranda Bond signed 2026-09-13 04:26:28 +1000
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Lucas Cramond signed 2026-09-12 23:35:03 +1000
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Tess Cunningham signed 2026-09-12 22:41:21 +1000
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Georgia Murphy signed 2026-09-12 22:37:02 +1000
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Ekateri a Stashkova signed 2026-09-12 22:32:59 +1000
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Chelsea Kerr signed 2026-09-12 22:00:32 +1000