This bill became law on Mar 10th, 2023.
Welfare & housing
Australia’s paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. becomes a single 20-week payment, and the separate dad and partner payment ends.
The existing scheme split leave into separate payments, forced the birth parentThe parent who gives birth to the child, who used to have to make the first claim under the old rules. into the main claim, and cut off entitlement if a claimant returned to work during the initial leave period. This bill combines the payments into one 20-week scheme and lets families share leave more flexibly, claim in small blocks, and qualify under a family income testThe new test that lets some families qualify based on the household's income instead of only the individual's income..
Australia’s national paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. scheme had operated since 2011 as separate payments with rigid rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions. about who claimed first and when leave could be taken, and by 2022 both major parties were backing changes to make it fit modern families better. After reforms were announced in the March 2022 budget, this bill combined the payments into a single 20-week scheme, widened access through a family income testThe new test that lets some families qualify based on the household's income instead of only the individual's income. and more flexible sharing rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions., passed in March 2023 and was set to start on 1 July 2023.
The main criticism was that the bill was too limited: it improved flexibility, but stopped at 20 weeks, left out superannuation and missed chances to widen eligibility further. Those concerns came mainly from crossbench and Greens amendments, with some Coalition speakers also asking for clearer detail on how the changes would work for small business.
Amanda Rishworth MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 10 Mar 2023
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
4 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
100 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australia’s paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. becomes a single 20-week payment, and the separate dad and partner payment ends.
Parents can now take paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. in small blocks, even one day at a time, at any point up to the day before the child turns two.
Families can decide who claims first and how to share the payment, instead of the law forcing the birth parentThe parent who gives birth to the child, who used to have to make the first claim under the old rules. into the first claim.
More families can qualify because a parent who misses the individual income testThe existing earnings test a person had to pass on their own before getting the payment. can still pass under a new $350,000 family income limit.
Two parents can be paid for the same child on the same day for up to 10 days, so families can overlap leave when they need to.
This Bill combines the 2 weeks of dad and partner pay with the current maximum 18 weeks of parental leave pay, extending parental leave pay to 20 weeks (100 payable days). Dad and partner pay will be abolished as a result.Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) explanatory memorandum
To allow claimants to use their parental leave entitlements in a way that works best for them, paid parental leave will consist only of flexible PPL days. This means parents can take paid parental leave in blocks as small as a day at a time, with periods of work in between, during the period starting the day the child is born and ending on the day before the child’s second birthday or anniversary of care.Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) explanatory memorandum
Remove the notion of ‘primary’, ‘secondary’ and ‘tertiary’ claimants and the requirement that the primary claimants of parental leave pay must be the birth parent, allowing families to decide who will claim first and how they will share the entitlement. The permission requirements applying to claims other than by the birth parent in Division 2 of Part 2-4 of the Paid Parental Leave Act will be revised accordingly, including distinguishing between permission to make a claim and permission to claim days.Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) explanatory memorandum
The family income limit is $350,000 and will be indexed annually from 1 July 2024, taking into account the Consumer Price Index. The individual income limit will continue to be indexed annually on 1 July.Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) explanatory memorandum
Item 51 repeals and substitutes section 21. New section 21 limits to 10 flexible PPL days the number of days in respect of which the Secretary may make a payability determination that parental leave pay is payable to more than one person in respect of those days. However, the Paid Parental Leave Rules may prescribe circumstances in which a flexible PPL day does not count towards the total of 10 flexible PPL days. This may occur, for example, where the mother is unwell following the birth, and the couple prefer that the father also be paid parental leave pay for a higher number of days to allow him to stay home and provide support.Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia’s national paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. scheme had operated since 2011 as separate payments with rigid rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions. about who claimed first and when leave could be taken, and by 2022 both major parties were backing changes to make it fit modern families better. After reforms were announced in the March 2022 budget, this bill combined the payments into a single 20-week scheme, widened access through a family income testThe new test that lets some families qualify based on the household's income instead of only the individual's income. and more flexible sharing rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions., passed in March 2023 and was set to start on 1 July 2023.
National Paid Parental LeaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. scheme begins
The scheme began in 2011, creating the paid leave system that later governments would try to make more flexible and easier for both parents to use.
Hansard ↗March 2022 budget announces paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. changes
The then government announced most of the flexibility changes in the March 2022 budget, putting reform of the existing scheme onto the federal policy agenda.
Hansard ↗Government introduces the bill to reshape the scheme
The bill was introduced as the first tranche of the government’s paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. changes to merge payments, expand eligibility and let families share leave more freely.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the new single 20-week payment and more flexible leave arrangements.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe step where the Governor-General signs a bill and it becomes law. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe step where the Governor-General signs a bill and it becomes law. completed the bill’s passage and enabled the legislated changes to be formally brought into operation.
Parliamentary timeline ↗New paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions. are set to begin
The government said the changes would commence from 1 July 2023, when families would be able to use the combined payment in smaller blocks and under the new income test.
Hansard ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Committee (01/12/2022): Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (24/02/2023)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe step where the Governor-General signs a bill and it becomes law., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the bill was too limited: it improved flexibility, but stopped at 20 weeks, left out superannuation and missed chances to widen eligibility further. Those concerns came mainly from crossbench and Greens amendments, with some Coalition speakers also asking for clearer detail on how the changes would work for small business.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill, but several speakers and senators wanted it strengthened.
Reform did not go far enough
Critics said the bill was only a partial reform because it kept paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. at 20 weeks for now instead of moving sooner to 26 weeks, limiting its effect on gender equality and family support.
No superannuation on leave payments
A key reservation was that the bill still did not pay superannuation on government-funded parental leave, which critics argued would keep adding to the retirement savings gap many mothers face.
Unfinished eligibility and implementation issues
Some concerns were about drafting and operation rather than the policy goal itself, including calls to broaden eligibility for postgraduate students and to give clearer detail about how the new arrangements would work, especially for small business employers.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated 12 to 31. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, Nationals, and minor parties and independents.
If agreed, it would have expressed Senate support for adding superannuation to the scheme, but it did not itself change the bill text.
Defeated 12 to 27. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents.
It would have expanded the immediate length of paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child., but the Senate rejected the request package.
Defeated 12 to 29. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents.
It would have broadened the work test so some doctoral students could qualify for the scheme, but the Senate rejected it.
Moved by The Hon Anne Ruston (Liberal Party of Australia). Defeated 29 to 34. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, and Jacqui Lambie Network. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
It would have created a small-business payment option within the scheme, but the Senate rejected the amendment package.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Amanda Rishworth strongly supports the bill and says it will modernise paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. by giving more families access, making the scheme more flexible, and improving gender equality.
Read in Hansard ↗Helen Haines supports the bill and says it is an important reform for families, gender equality, and the health of parents and children.
Read in Hansard ↗Pocock supports the bill and says it is a welcome first step that improves flexibility and access for dads and partners, but he argues it does not go far enough on leave length and small business administration.
Read in Hansard ↗Katy Gallagher strongly supports the bill and says it is a major reform that will make paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. fairer, more flexible, and more inclusive for modern families.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
32 speakers · 34 contributions · 32 support
“In summary, it is critical that our Paid Parental Leave scheme supports modem Australian families—a scheme that is flexible, fair and drives positive health, social and economic outcomes for both parents and their children. This Bill does just that. Crucially, it gives more families access to the Government payment, provides parents more flexibility in how they take leave, and encourages them to share care to support gender equality.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“But it's been a decade since we brought that in, so we are well and truly due an update, and that is absolutely what this bill, the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, is all about.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend this legislation to the chamber and I thank the minister for bringing it in. It's great to see that it's a Labor government doing the great reforms that are needed to help families in this country. We'll continue to uphold their aspirations for local, individual family units.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We're delivering a wholesale reform of the way we deal with paid parental leave in this country so that it's a fairer, more robust system that aligns more closely with the views and expectations of modern Australia. I am very proud to be part of a government that has spent every day working on behalf of Australian families, delivering significant reforms to improve the lives of families and communities right across our country. (Time expired)”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Let's talk about what this bill does to give more families access to the sorts of support they need. Firstly, it combines the payments into a single 20-week scheme. That is the first step. That is what we're going to do from 1 July this year. We will reserve two weeks of that for each parent to make sure that each parent has time with their child. We're going to simplify claims and processing by removing the categories of primary and secondary carer so parents have more flexibility in accessing the payments. We will expand access to the scheme by introducing the $350,000 income test.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“What this bill does, and what I will focus on in my contribution, is remove gender. It says to families that mum or dad—either parent—can have access to this government entitlement.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Amanda Rishworth on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Amanda Rishworth strongly supports the bill and says it will modernise paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. by giving more families access, making the scheme more flexible, and improving gender equality. She argues the current rulesThe detailed rules that fill in the practical steps for claiming the payment, including special cases and permissions. are unfair to fathers, partners and families with women as the higher income earner, and that the reforms fix those problems.
“In summary, it is critical that our Paid Parental Leave scheme supports modem Australian families—a scheme that is flexible, fair and drives positive health, social and economic outcomes for both parents and their children. This bill does just that. Crucially, it gives more families access to the government payment, provides parents more flexibility in how they take leave and encourages them to share care to support gender equality.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Rishworth supports the bill and says it modernises paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. by giving more families access, more flexibility and stronger gender equality. She says it delivers the first stage of Labor's reform plan and should pass quickly so expecting parents can pre-claim on time.
“The changes in this bill modernise paid parental leave so that it is right for the time and right for the future. We know that dads and partners want more time at home with their baby. We know that parents want flexibility in how they choose to take leave and transition back to work. We know that the current eligibility rules are unfair to families where the mother is the higher income earner. This bill fixes those problems. It gives more families access to the payment, provides parents with more flexibility in how they take their leave and encourages them to share care to support gender equality.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I am so proud to stand here today in support of this brilliant legislation, the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, that will have such a great impact on so many Australian families. This is the first step of us building on our Paid Parental Leave scheme and extending it to 26 weeks by 2026, making it more flexible for families to have more choice in the way they use this very special time in a family's life.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is about families, gender equity and strengthening our economy. It is the largest expansion of the Paid Parental Leave scheme since Labor established the scheme in 2011. In a nutshell, the bill proposes delivering six important changes from July this year: combining the two existing parental leave payments into a single 20-week scheme; reserving a portion of the scheme for each parent to take time off after a birth or adoption; making it easier for both parents to access the payment by removing the notion of primary and secondary carers; expanding access by introducing a $350,000 family income test under which people can qualify if they do not meet the individual income test; increasing flexibility for parents to choose how they take paid parental leave days and transition back to work; and allowing eligible fathers and partners to access the payment, irrespective of whether the mother or birth mother meets the income test or residency requirements.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The changes in this bill modernise paid parental leave so that it's the right time and right for the future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm delighted to be able to speak to the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, and I'm very much looking forward to it becoming a reality, as, I must say, are my children, who are in their late 20s and early 30s. Their generation is looking to us to help them find a way to make their next steps in the world. One of the things that I noticed at the Jobs and Skills Summit was how high a priority improvements to paid parental leave were. These messages were not necessarily coming from people representing the mums and the dads; they were coming from businesses and the business sector because, in fact, such improvements turn out to be a microeconomic reform. We listened to the variety of proposals that were raised, and we would love to do everything, but we've started with the priorities. This is the most significant step to improving the scheme since it was established by Labor in 2011.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The paid parental leave scheme is critical reform. I'm delighted this is before the Australian parliament. I'm delighted there is multiparty support for these amendments, which is right and proper. It is absolutely proper not only for a government with 52 per cent of its ranks comprised of women who have much lived experience of this scheme but also for all of us who are listening to our electorates. This has long been called for. These amendments will mean we'll have a flexible, fair and positive outcome for Australian families. It will help drive positive health, social and economic outcomes for parents and their children. I am very pleased to rise and support these amendments. They've been a long time coming, and I look forward to being able to vote positively for these reforms today.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak in support of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022. This bill expands and improves the paid parental leave scheme legislated by the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments in 2010.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'll conclude in the same way I started: by reiterating that this bill is good for families and good for the economy. It's a bill that provides much-needed reform to Australia's Paid Parental Leave scheme.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I would like to acknowledge that this government has a strong commitment to it. In terms of this bill, I certainly want to note and acknowledge the wonderful Minister for Social Services for introducing this bill. It is indeed a very proud, historic moment for all of us in the Albanese Labor government. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The government's paid parental leave reform is good for parents, good for children, good for employers and good for the economy. It gives families flexibility and choice about how they want to make arrangements for caring for their children. It's good for gender equity, enabling and encouraging men to spend time as carers during the important early life of their children; it's good for women, enabling them to maintain their link with their employer and avoid the career gap that so often tips them into poverty in later life; and it's good for employers, enabling them to maintain a link with their female employees that they have invested so much time and money and training. It's good for Australia by supporting flexibility for families and unlocking the female workforce as we face a shortage of skilled workers across all sectors. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Labor is the party that has delivered paid parental leave to Australian families. We need to ensure our national Paid Parental Leave scheme keeps pace with the expectations of Australian families. Increased flexibility in the application of paid parental leave will benefit parents and their children. All Australians should welcome this. I hope it will be reflected in the way that parents share the responsibility of raising their children, from birth right through their early years and beyond. Without these changes, we risk leaving in place a paid parental leave scheme trapped in the past. I call on all members to get behind this legislation. This benefit will be felt across our communities and across our economy. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill sets out to fix some of those fundamental problems with the Paid Parental Leave scheme. It does it in a few key ways. It combines the parental leave pay and dad and partner pay schemes into a single parental leave scheme available for 20 weeks. It expands eligibility to allow an eligible father or partner to receive parental leave pay regardless of whether the birth parent meets the residency requirements or income tests. It introduces a $350,000 combined family income limit and allows claimants to take the payment flexibly within two years of birth or adoption.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Early involvement of dads sets up a virtuous cycle of care and a more equal division of housework, and it helps build confidence in fathers' parenting skills from soothing baby to changing nappies, bathtime and bed. All are skills, and all can be learned with practice, free from the pressures of work. A healthy bond from birth also sets fathers up for greater engagement in developmental activities like reading and playtime later on in life. I want to break those social norms that box in men as breadwinners and women as homemakers—in fact, I want to smash them. The modern family in Higgins, with both parents working, demands flexibility and an opportunity to do things a little better than their parents' generation. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I urge everyone in this place to support this bill. This bill will support women. It will help remove that issue that many women face when they become mothers, having to choose between being the parent who is the full-time carer or giving up their opportunity in the workforce.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend this bill and I thank all senators who will be supporting this bill today. Parents will be better off. Women will be better off. Men will be better off. Employers will be better off. And this is just the beginning of delivering for Australian women.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We know that Australia has a generous paid parental leave scheme. Globally, it's one of the better ones. But there are still significant improvements needed when it comes to flexibility and equity. That's what this bill, the Paid Parental Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, seeks to do—to make paid parental leave more flexible and more equitable for Australian families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a bill that, as a father and a man, I am proud to speak on and support. This is a bill that sends a clear message that treating parenting as an equal partnership supports gender equality. This bill shows that, as a government, we value both men and women as carers. I truly hope that this is reflected and reinforced in workplaces and throughout all of our communities. This bill brings all-round benefits. The government's paid parental leave reform is good for parents, good for kids, good for employers and good for the economy. This government is delivering a win for all, a win that will have real benefits for real people who need it the most. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Parenting is not the sole responsibility of the mother. This bill recognises this fact. This bill gives families access to payment, gives parents more flexibility in how they'll take leave and encourages parents to share improved gender equality.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It gives me immense pride to speak in support of the bill, as part of a government which is delivering on its promises, and it will assist the lives of 180,000 Australian families every year. The bill is good for Australia's economy, it's good for our society and it's absolutely, totally intertwined with our success and our future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I congratulate the Minister for Social Services for her tireless advocacy and work on this bill, and I proudly commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We were very happy to support this bill and to commend it to the Senate. I know there is more work to do in these reforms; there's much more work we can do to make life better for Australian families, for mums and dads and, critically, for their children. That's why I'm part of the Labor Party. That's why I'm proud to be part of a Labor government, because we will do that work from these benches. That's why we're here. I commend the bill to the Senate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I'm really pleased with this legislation and everything that speakers before me have said it will achieve for families, for productivity and for children. It is an important first step in what the Albanese government wants to achieve and that push towards 26 weeks of paid parental leave—and looking forward to the recommendations of the Women's Economic Taskforce about what some of the provisions should be in that legislation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I want to make a short contribution on the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, firstly to indicate that, while I think this legislation is an achievement of this government that is worth celebrating, and I trust that it will make its way through the Senate over the course of today, it is not just an achievement of this government; it is an achievement that really rests upon the shoulders of generations of people, particularly in the labour movement.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“To sum up, this is a bill that meets the needs of the modern Australian family and the modern Australian economy, and there is more to come from the Albanese Labor government. This is a smart, flexible approach to providing care and support for children after birth or adoption. It's an investment in gender equality and in productivity. It's another proud Labor legacy as we build up to six months paid parental leave. I am proud to support this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Carina Garland on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Garland supports the bill and says it will make paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. fairer and more flexible by creating a single 20-week scheme, reserving leave for both parents, and improving access for families. She argues it is a practical gender-equality reform that will help parents, children, employers and the economy.
“Our agenda, as the Albanese Labor government, has been about delivering crucial reforms for a forward-thinking, ambitious, optimistic Australia. The changes to paid parental leave are but one part of that, and a very significant part of that—the work of building a better future for all. I am so pleased and so proud to support this bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Garland supports the bill as the first step in Labor's plan to expand paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child., arguing that it gives families more flexibility, widens access, and encourages parents to share care to improve gender equality. She says the current scheme is too rigid and unfair, especially for fathers and partners and families where the mother earns more.
“It limits flexibility for families to choose how they'd like to take leave and transition back into work. The eligibility rules are unfair to families where the mother is the higher income earner. We need to modernise the scheme, and our bill fixes these issues, giving more families access to the government payment and giving parents more flexibility in how they take leave.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I note the inquiry into this bill showed broad support for the provisions, including from representatives of employees and employers, such as the ACTU and ACCI. There were also a number of community groups backing the changes. In this bill we're extending the shared paid parental leave entitlement from 18 weeks to 20 weeks, and we will go further in accordance with our election commitments.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
11 speakers · 12 contributions · 11 support
“In conclusion, the coalition government did a lot. We support this bill. We believe in freedom, we believe in choice and this bill will help with freedom of families to raise their children. Summing up, we support the bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is worth reiterating at the outset, as the member for Deakin did yesterday in his second reading contribution on this bill, that the coalition supports it. It picks up many of the amendments which the coalition proposed back in March 2022. Overall, it creates a much more flexible scheme, as had been conceived in the coalition's proposed amendments in the Enhanced Paid Parental Leave package of reforms.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“With those comments, I commend this bill. One issue not addressed in this bill is expanding it to 26 weeks, which the government has indicated is going to be occurring in a subsequent bill. I don't know why that couldn't happen in this bill, but we hope that the government intends to honour that commitment and that we see that bill before the House in the near future. But certainly the principles of equality and flexibility are natural attributes of the coalition. These are policy positions that we in many cases had in our last budget, and on that we support the bill, and I commend it to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill extends the paid parental leave from 18 weeks to 20 weeks. It supports parents and children, therefore the coalition supports the extension to our measures contained in this bill, and I congratulate Labor for finally coming to the party on this very important measure for Australian families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“To conclude, this is a good bill. Paid parental leave is vital for Australian mums; it is vital for Australian dads. It is integral to women's workforce participation, for mothers' physical and mental health, and for giving fathers the opportunity to be more fully involved in their children's early care. For all of the reasons I have mentioned, I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In summary, this is a good amendment; it's a good bill. It's going to help families in my electorate. It would have been excellent for me when we had our first child and our second child, and I hope that the families from now on can benefit. And I hope that young people move forward positively towards the career of their dreams, knowing that if they do want to start a family there is support for them to do that and that then if they wish to re-enter the workforce they can—because we so badly need those wonderful skills, particularly in electorates like mine, where we're having trouble attracting people from metropolitan areas to come up to the wonderful Goulburn Valley to work in our thriving economy. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I am very pleased to get up and speak on the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, and I will signal, at the outset, that the opposition will be supporting this bill for a number of reasons. Firstly, credit to the government. They have picked up a number of the amendments to paid parental leave that the former government announced as part of the March 2022 budget. In fact, the vast majority of these changes have been adopted from there, and credit to the government for picking up on initiatives to provide increased flexibility and more user-friendly and more fit-for-purpose paid parental leave for modern families that were announced as part of that March 2022 budget.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So, once again, the coalition will support this bill, given the vast majority of changes reflect the important reforms that we announced as part of our last budget to enhance the scheme and ensure parents are able to make their own caring arrangements based on their individual circumstances.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Henry Pike on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Pike says the coalition will support the bill because it extends paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. and better supports Australian families and workforce participation. He also says Labor should give more detail about how the changes will work, especially for small business, and what happened to the promised move to 26 weeks.
“It should come as no surprise given our record that the coalition, even in opposition, will not waver from a long-standing ambition to provide genuine support for Australian families, so we will be supporting this bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Henry Pike says the coalition supports the bill because it carries forward its own paid parental leaveThe government payment that lets eligible parents take paid time off work around the birth or adoption of a child. reforms and improves flexibility and fairness for families. He welcomes the current government’s progress on the changes and argues they will help working parents, especially through the higher family income limit and easier sharing of leave.
“The amendments in the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 build on comprehensive changes to the Paid Parental Leave scheme that were first announced by the coalition in the March 2022 budget. These changes, first proposed by the coalition, were part of an enhanced Paid Parental Leave package of reforms that were very well received by commentators, key stakeholders and Australian working families less than a year ago. I had many in my electorate react positively to these changes when announced last year by the coalition government, and I'm pleased that the current Labor government have progressed these positive reforms.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“At a time when employers are screaming out for new employees, providing primary caregivers the option to return to work sooner and in a more flexible manner is a win for employers and employees alike, and I therefore commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will be supporting this bill. In fact, the bill reflects the coalition's policy when in government. Large parts of it are taken from the changes we proposed to the Paid Parental Leave scheme when we were last in government, and we acknowledge that Labor, in government, has adopted our policy in large part and is now implementing it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
5 speakers · 5 support
“Overall, this bill is a positive step towards fairer paid parental leave, but, as I said, it's a baby step. There are equitable measures which could be taken to align Australia's Paid Parental Leave scheme with world' s best practice now, rather than waiting for later. As one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, we should be able to give all working parents and their children the quality care and early childhood education that they need. The families of Australia deserve it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak to the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 and to add my support to the widespread support that exists in this chamber, including that of my Greens colleague Senator Waters. The Greens will be supporting this bill, because it represents a step—a modest step, but an important step—in the right direction. But much more needs to be done.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Improvements to paid parental leave as presented in this bill will, hopefully, help create more equitable workplaces and less disadvantage for women and improve the sharing of care between parents.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 is a welcome recognition of the need for reform in the way we design parental leave, to address maternal and child health, to encourage shared care and to address the contribution of our current parental leave policies to the persistent and problematic gender pay gap. But much more needs to be done, much faster than the government's current timetable. The government could immediately move to 26 weeks rather than making families wait another three years for that, and they should commit to finding a pathway to 52 weeks of paid parental leave by 2030, as recommended by many stakeholders, including the ACTU.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm glad to support the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022, which makes paid parental leave available to both parents in the relationship. It's a welcome step that fosters a more equal division of care between parents and supports LGBTQI+ and non-traditional family units as well.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 7 support
“The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 is a very important reform in family policy, gender equity, and child and parent health. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While there's plenty to be proud of in this bill, it really should be seen as a first step. There's so much more to do. Given the workforce shortages being felt in various industries, I feel this bill misses an opportunity to accelerate those changes needed to unlock greater workforce participation by women.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I welcome the government's amendments to paid parental leave. They will give families more access and greater flexibility, they will help to eliminate gender inequality in some small way, they will get more fathers into carers' roles and they will facilitate women's participation in the workforce in a small way. But the timing of the full rollout to 26 weeks of paid parental leave should be brought forward. There is no justifiable reason to wait three more years. We can't make families wait that much longer.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend the aim of the bill to make paid parental leave more accessible, more flexible and gender-neutral. But the amendments don't go far enough, and they are too slow.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in support of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022. I welcome this legislation because it will make a difference both economically and culturally to this country. It will benefit women, it will benefit families and it will benefit parents.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill will encourage more dads to take up paid parental leave, leading to more equitable family roles becoming normalised, thus releasing both men and women from heavily gendered norms that have previously been so prevalent in Australian society. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I am hugely supportive of an improved paid parental leave scheme in Australia, and I welcome these reforms. However, I think we can and must aim higher. I believe courage and long-term vision is what we should always strive for. Ultimately, 26 weeks should be set as a minimum length of paid parental leave, increasing to 52 weeks based on the Scandinavian shared-care model.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe step where the Governor-General signs a bill and it becomes law., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (24/02/2023)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (1 Dec 2022): Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (24 Feb 2023)
APH bill page notes
