Advocates call for paid parental leave reform to benefit families.

A parent advocacy group is calling on the federal government to expand its paid parental leave policy to a full year for both carers. The Parenthood chief executive Georgie Dent spoke before a parliamentary inquiry on Monday, advocating for a six-week “use it or lose it” provision, an increase to the payment rate from the minimum wage to a replacement wage, the extension of superannuation guarantees, and ultimately a 52-week leave equally shared between two carers.

Dent argued that “Australian parents receive far less paid parental leave than parents around the world, and it costs children, families, our society and the economy.” Parents At Work chief executive Emma Walsh is pushing for the government to increase the leave to 26 weeks by next year and to 52 weeks by 2030, as well as extending access to the leave from two years to five to offer greater flexibility.

Both CEOs agree that a more robust scheme is necessary to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Walsh noted that “the (legislation) doesn’t go far enough if Australia is going to meet its gender equality targets and shift gendered norms that see women expected to take on the lion’s share of caring duties in the workplace and at home.”

The government’s proposed legislation combines two existing payments into a shared 20-week scheme, extends access through a family income test, and makes it easier for new fathers to access paid leave. It also plans to progressively increase the amount of leave until it reaches 26 weeks in 2026.