Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to offer Labor's support to this important legislation, which will make a substantial difference in the lives of parents who have experienced the tragedy of stillbirth. The principle effect of the Fair Work Amendment (Improving Unpaid Parental Leave for Parents of Stillborn Babies and Other Measures) Bill 2020 will be to provide the same unpaid parental leave entitlements to parents who experience stillbirth as any other parent. As we know, through hearing the many tragic stories from parents who have lived through this difficult and painful experience, they are parents too.

This bill will make a significant difference to Australian families, particularly those parents and families who experience stillbirths—six families each day. However, while this bill makes a difference in respect to unpaid parental leave, it only partly addresses the bipartisan recommendation of the Senate select committee on stillbirth. The committee recommended that laws be changed to ensure that paid parental leave is provided to parents of stillborn babies, regardless of whether they work in the public or private sector. So, while the government's changes on unpaid parental leave are welcome and positive, there is still unfinished business for parents of stillborn babies in relation to guaranteed equal access to parental leave.

Senators who were part of the Senate select committee should be congratulated for this outcome, particularly Senators McCarthy, Keneally and Bilyk. Once more I echo the comments made by the shadow minister in the other place and express my sincere appreciation to all those organisations who have worked tirelessly to get to where we are today. Lastly, I pay tribute to all the parents who have shared their sad and very personal stories of stillbirth, including the parliamentarians in this place. I commend this bill to the Senate.