URGENCY MOTION TO SUPPORT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR FATHERS AT THE NATIONALS’ CONFERENCE

Shadow Special Envoy for Men and Boys and Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien will move an urgency motion at The Nationals’ conference this weekend, to stop denying a working father paid parental leave, simply because the mother has not recently been in paid work.

Mr O’Brien said this crucial motion would not just support fathers, but families overall.

“Labor currently penalises families where the mother chooses to be the primary carer for her children at home,” Mr O’Brien said.

“A father’s parental leave should not depend on the hours a mum works in the formal economy.

“Raising children is work too, and families shouldn’t be penalised when a mum chooses to make that her priority.

“I feel passionate about this issue, and the need for fathers to be able to bond with their babies and enjoy a newborn’s first few weeks at home, which is why I am prioritising the important change this weekend.”

The urgency motion and concept would not expand paid parental leave, but importantly, assist traditional or single-income families, where the father is the main breadwinner.

“This issue has been raised with me at the many Men, Boys and Dads forums I have been hosting throughout Australia, in my role as the Special Shadow Envoy for Men and Boys. I am hearing at the forums, and on the ground, that fathers understandably want to be there once their baby is born.

“Spending time with a newborn baby and being able to support a wife or mother is a crucial and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – it is priceless. That’s why I believe a father or partner who independently satisfies the work, income and residency tests should be able to claim those four weeks, without requiring the birth mother to satisfy the work test.”

Mr O’Brien added Labor previously abolished the old standalone dad and partner pay, and incorporated fathers into a work test for the mother.

“I believe fathers have an important role and responsibility in the first months of their child’s life. A working dad’s access to paid parental leave shouldn’t depend on whether mum works too.”

Chair of International Council for Men and Boys and father-of-two David Maywald attended the Men and Boys’ Forum in Albury and said he was passionate about the education and wellbeing of young men and boys, especially because he has both a son and daughter.

He said he was “very supportive” of the urgency motion and Llew’s push for paid parental leave for fathers, regardless of the mother’s employment.

“When my first child was born, the entitlement was one week,” Mr Maywald said.

“I found that insulting. In terms of recognising the importance of fatherhood, it was so tokenistic and such a pittance. I actually then dug deep into my annual leave and other entitlements so I could spend time with the kids.

“I am hugely supportive of this idea, which has come from listening to the concerns and issues of men across the country. This is a real effort from listening and then coming up with thoughtful policy.”

Background

From 1 July 2026, the Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave scheme provides families with:

• If the person is not partnered at the time of claim – 26 weeks / 130 days of Parental Leave Pay at the National Minimum Wage.
• If the person is partnered at the time of claim – 110 days, with the remaining 20 days reserved for another claimant (father / partner).
• Flexible use of leave within the existing scheme.
• A Commonwealth-funded 12% superannuation contribution.

However, the four weeks reserved for Dad are not genuinely his entitlement.

In an ordinary family, Dad can generally only claim if:

• he satisfies his own eligibility requirements;
• the birth mother also satisfies the work test; and
• the birth mother gives permission for his claim.

A father can therefore have worked full-time for years and still be unable to receive the four weeks notionally reserved for him because his partner has not recently been in paid work.

This particularly disadvantages single-income families where the mum chooses to prioritise being the primary carer of the children. The dad may have worked continuously and qualify in his own right, but can still receive no paid parental leave because the mother has not recently participated sufficiently in paid work.