Australia: parental leave extended to 20 weeks as of 01 July 2023

As part of its budget review, Australia’s Federal Parliament has extended paid parental leave and made it more accessible to new fathers. Under the current scheme mothers (biological/adoptive) are eligible for 18 weeks of paid leave and fathers/partners two weeks. Both beneficiaries must have worked at least 330 hours over the 13 months prior to the child’s birth/adoption and meet income and residency requirements. Changes to the scheme will come into effect for parents whose children are born