✍️ 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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Venkata Nalluri signed 2026-09-02 15:21:09 +1000
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Ranvir Gardner signed 2026-09-02 15:04:22 +1000
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Benjamin O'Toole signed 2026-09-02 14:45:43 +1000
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Josie Foster signed 2026-09-02 13:58:29 +1000Will improve our society, SO much.
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Brandon Hults signed 2026-09-02 13:18:06 +1000
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Josh Rozairo signed 2026-09-02 13:11:42 +1000
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Mohammed Shaheer signed 2026-09-02 13:03:26 +1000I’m about to become a dad soon, and based on the Centrelink payment process, we won’t be receiving any financial support because of the income I earn from my job. As we are currently relying on a single income, our financial situation is quite difficult, and managing the increasing living expenses is becoming challenging.
I’m hoping there may be some form of assistance or support available to help us during this time, as we are preparing for the arrival of our baby and trying to manage everything on one income. -
Vijit Kapoor signed 2026-09-02 12:58:42 +1000
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Matt Smith signed 2026-09-02 12:58:23 +1000Dads are just as important as mums.
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Ewan Nurse signed 2026-09-02 12:47:48 +1000
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Camilo Torres signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-02 12:47:08 +1000
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Jose Pablo Cordova Vivanco signed 2026-09-02 12:42:58 +1000
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Steven Macmeikan signed 2026-09-02 12:42:31 +1000
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Maria Motha signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-02 12:38:30 +1000
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Satoshi Suda signed 2026-09-02 12:37:50 +1000
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Stuart Thurlby signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-02 12:37:48 +1000Yes, this!
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Steve Bunting signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-02 12:37:44 +1000
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Prashant Tandon signed 2026-09-02 12:33:27 +1000
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Ryan Carters signed via Sebastian Costello 2026-09-02 12:26:19 +1000
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Mary Digges signed 2026-09-02 06:17:36 +1000As an ECE Consultant and Grandmother this is a necessity for babies and parents to develop loving and caring bonds , healthy development, wellbeing and mental health without the stress of work commitments and financial pressure.
Parents need our support to advocate for the importance of early years so they can grow and nurture healthy humans. -
Diane Davies signed 2026-09-01 21:37:06 +1000
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Marie Carvolth signed 2026-09-01 21:35:22 +1000
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Peter Hunt signed 2026-09-01 16:10:54 +1000
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Jo Croke signed 2026-09-01 15:09:54 +1000
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Nima Mohammadi signed 2026-09-01 13:58:32 +1000
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Judy Ogrady signed 2026-09-01 13:55:56 +1000
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george mercier signed 2026-09-01 13:52:45 +1000
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Madeleine Steel signed 2026-09-01 13:48:42 +1000
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Ron Woods signed 2026-09-01 12:33:53 +1000
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Susan Meyer signed 2026-09-01 12:33:05 +1000