The NSW Government has declared its commitment to attracting and retaining a high-performing and diverse workforce in the NSW Public Service, announcing that paid parental leave had been introduced for the PS workforce to take effect from 1 July.
Publishing Memorandum M2021-12 Paid Parental Leave, the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) said the enhanced leave policy offered 14 weeks of paid leave to a new child’s primary carer, regardless of the carer’s gender.
DPC said that under the policy, the parent who didn’t have primary responsibility for the care of their child was entitled to two weeks paid parental leave at the time of the child’s birth or adoption and an additional 12 weeks’ paid leave, subject to conditions.
Special Minister of State, Don Harwin said workplace leave arrangements needed to reflect the needs and arrangements of today’s parents.
“The old maternity leave scheme was not sufficient as it did not allow for families where birth-mothers were not the primary caregiver to access sufficient leave to care for their child,” Mr Harwin said.
“No one type of family is more eligible than another, which is why the NSW Government is proud to update its parental leave policy,” he said.
“This furthers gender equality in the workplace and ensures that all parents can take appropriate leave to care for their newborn.”
Mr Harwin said the new policy was available to every part of the public sector and covered eligible full-time and part-time, ongoing and temporary State employees.
The Minister said the State’s paid parental leave policy was in addition to the Federal Government scheme which provides 18 weeks of paid parental leave to eligible employees and is paid at the National Minimum Wage.
DPC’s Memorandum M2021-12 can be viewed online at this PS News link.
