Australia: paid parental leave extended to 26 weeks

On 18 March, the Federal Parliament passed the bill extending paid parental leave, which has been supported by the Labour government since 2022. In line with the government’s wishes, the leave allowance will be gradually increased by two weeks a year from 1 July 2024, reaching 26 weeks in 2026. To further encourage couples to share family duties, four weeks will be reserved for each parent, compared to two at present. Parents will also benefit from greater flexibility and will be able to take f