A significant policy idea that will be discussed prior to the federal budget would increase paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks.
Prior to the budget on October 26, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is debating the plan, which would address gender fairness and assist families with the cost of living.
Helping women into the labor is “low-hanging fruit” for boosting the economy, Mr. Albanese told reporters, adding that he will have more to say on the subject.
In order to benefit both the national economy and family budgets, he added, “We need to maximize the economic engagement of women.”
In terms of paid maternity leave, the prime minister said that Australia was “towards the bottom” of other developed democracies.
When announcements are made, they will be made. However, as we’ve already said, Labor has been a strong proponent of continuously paid parental leave. We’ve said that we would want to do it more often,” he remarked.
To promote women’s employment participation, to ensure that they can remain in the workforce, to improve productivity for firms, as well as by raising their living standards, is one of the things regarding paid parental leave that we need to achieve.
According to Mr. Albanese, having a family benefits both the person and the economy.
Labor would always try to provide additional help, he said, “but I’ll have more to say about that over the next time.”
Currently, parents who qualify and are the main caregivers for a baby may get 18 weeks of paid parental leave at the federal minimum wage.
Fathers and partners who provide secondary care may be compensated for up to two weeks.
The Albanese administration has been urged by the Australian Council of Trade Unions to expand paid parental leave to 26 weeks initially before increasing it to 52 weeks by 2030.