Australian parents are to be able to claim a total of 20 weeks of paid parental leave with changes to leave entitlements to come into effect later this year.
Announcing the changes, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said that from 1 July, the current entitlement of up to 18 weeks’ paid parental leave pay would be combined with the current ‘Dad and Partner Pay’ entitlement of two weeks.
“This means partnered couples will be able to claim up to 20 weeks’ paid parental leave between them,” Ms Parker said.
“Parents who are single at the time of their claim can access the full 20 weeks,” she said.
“These changes affect employees whose baby is born or placed in their care on or after 1 July 2023.”
Ms Parker said the changes would allow partnered employees to claim a maximum of 20 weeks’ pay between them, with each partner taking at least two weeks (except in some circumstances).
She said a $350,000 family income limit (indexed annually from 1 July 2024) would be introduced for claiming paid parental leave, while eligibility rules would be expanded for fathers or partners to claim paid parental leave pay.
The Ombudsman said the whole parental leave payment would be flexible, allowing eligible employees to claim it in multiple blocks until the child turned two.
Ms Parker said the requirement for an employee to return to work to be eligible for the entitlement would be removed.
Further information on changes to the paid parental leave scheme can be accessed at this PS News link.
