Australian Government expands Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks

Australian Government has passed the expansion of paid parental leave to 26 weeks and shall become law. The expansion exclaims that over 180,000 families shall get benefit from July 1, 2024 with an extra two weeks of leave i.e., 22 weeks in total followed by its increase to 24 weeks from July 2025 in addition to 26 weeks from July 2026.

This expansion has been made to whip up the parents with four weeks reserved for each parent in order to share the care and responsibilities.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy in a statement to the parliament said, “This normalises paid parental leave as a workplace entitlement which is good for workplace retention and fosters gender-equitable workplaces.”

The changes have been approved by federal Senate in addition to Australian government’s promise to aid small businesses administering paid parental leave with $10 million through payroll systems. All the changes were possible after the efforts of independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie to support SMEs.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said in her remarks, “It’s a really good day for families in Australia. What we have passed through the Senate now means that we will have the largest extension to paid parental leave - the Government paid parental leave - since its inception. From the first of July, the payment will expand to 22 weeks and then go to 24 and 26 weeks by 2026.”

This step by the government of Australia shall take the country one step ahead towards women’s economic inclusion. This shall ensure that the gender gap is somewhat closing.