According to a new idea to reduce the gender gap, new fathers might receive up to 20 weeks of government-funded employment leave to be utilised at any time before their child turns two.
The newly elected Labor government, according to Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, is “keen” to examine the laws to better serve the needs of contemporary Australian families.
The mother is considered to be the “primary caregiver” in a straight relationship, unless there are unusual circumstances, and she is entitled to 18 weeks of paid parental leave at the minimum salary.
Only two weeks of paid paternity leave are available to fathers, and opponents claim that this encourages men to continue working while encouraging women to take care of babies.
Couples can now combine these two leave entitlements and utilise the 20 weeks whenever they see fit, according to a move made in the most recent budget of the former Morrison administration.
Ms. Rishworth stated that she supports the idea but is now analyzing it to make sure there are no unanticipated implications.
‘Society has changed. A lot more men do want to play a role. And a lot of men do say they want to be the primary caregiver for some period of time,’ she told The Australian.
‘I’m having a really good look at what can be done with paid parental leave,’ she said.
The Parenthood, a family advocacy group, wants the government to take additional action.
It has started a petition asking for new parents to share 12 months of parental leave with full pay and superannuation.
According to Executive Director Georgie Dent, it is crucial for new families and gender equity to do away with the idea of a primary and secondary caregiver and permit parents to evenly divide the tasks.
She also commended several businesses for setting an example by providing parental leave in addition to what the law requires.
‘There has been an effort among some corporations in Australia to encourage dads to take extended parental leave… offering 18 weeks of paid leave to any parent within the first 12 months of the baby coming. And flexibility about how and when that’s taken,’ she said.
For example if a new father wants to take a few weeks of paid leave after his baby is born and then another few weeks several months later some workplaces are fine with this, she added.
She also said Australia needs to catch up with the rest of the world.
Australian fathers take the least amount of paternity leave in the developed world, second only to the US.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Mary Wooldridge said men taking paternity leave benefitted not just them but society.
‘The research shows that men being more actively involved in childcare increases their wellbeing and happiness,’ Ms Wooldridge said.
‘It also shows that when men take parental leave, they’re more likely to participate in childcare on an ongoing basis and have a more equitable division of unpaid work at home.’
‘This is very positive to both them and their relationship with their children, and also enables women to have greater choices in terms of returning to work.
‘And from an organisational perspective, it’s shown to increase job satisfaction and productivity.’