Labor conference motion puts 52 weeks of paid parental leave on the national agenda

MEDIA STATEMENT

The Parenthood has welcomed a motion adopted at the Australian Labor Party’s national conference in Melbourne last week, calling for Labor to continue expanding paid parental leave and work towards pathways that give parents access to up to 52 weeks of leave.

The motion, moved by Helen Cooney from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association and seconded by the Finance Sector Union, and strongly supported by conference delegates, commits Labor to building on the current 26-week scheme and working with unions and employers on its future expansion.

The Parenthood CEO Georgie Dent said the decision was an important milestone, but families now needed a clear plan to turn the ambition into reality.

“Putting 52 weeks of paid parental leave on the national agenda is a significant and welcome step,” Ms Dent said.

“For years, parents have been calling for a system that gives families more time to recover from birth, bond with their baby and establish strong foundations without being forced back to work before they are ready. 

“But a party conference motion is not yet a government commitment and it does not give families access to 52 weeks of paid leave today.

“The next step must be a clear, funded pathway beyond the current 26 weeks, with government, unions, employers and family advocates working together on how it will be delivered.”

Ms Dent said the scheme must remain simple, equitable and accessible to all eligible families.

“Access to adequate paid parental leave should not depend on where a parent works or whether their employer offers a generous scheme,” she said.

“Too many parents are still piecing together annual leave, long service leave, rostered days off and unpaid leave just to spend more time caring for their newborn.

“We also need to make it easier and more normal for fathers and partners to take meaningful periods of leave. A gender-neutral scheme will not deliver gender equality while women continue to take the overwhelming majority of time away from paid work.”

Ms Dent said better paid parental leave would also complement investment in high-quality early childhood education and care by giving families more genuine choice about when they return to work and when they begin using care.

“Families need both strong paid parental leave and high-quality early childhood education and care,” she said.

“This motion is welcome progress. Now it must be backed by a clear plan, firm milestones and accountability for delivery.”

The Parenthood is Australia’s leading parent advocacy organisation, representing families nationwide and working to make early childhood education and care safer, more affordable and accessible for every child.