Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for that very fine question, Senator Stewart. I know you have a very deep interest in this area—personal and otherwise.

In our first year, the Albanese Labor government has not wasted a day in delivering a better future for all Australians. This government is making it easier for working families to get ahead. On 1 July, next week, our changes to paid parental leave come into effect, giving about 180,000 families access to a more flexible payment that promotes shared care. As a result of our changes, not only will more parents have access to the government payment but they will also have more flexibility in how they transition back to work and how they share care between them. This is an important first step for better paid parental leave. But there is more to be done, and that's why we will introduce further legislation over the coming months to provide families with an extra six weeks by 2026. That's an extra $5,000 in paid leave, based on current rates.

Improving paid parental leave is a critical reform; it's critical for families, it's critical for women and it's critical for the economy. Paid parental leave is an important Labor legacy, and I'm very proud—as I know you would be, Senator Stewart—to be part of a government which is building on that legacy and delivering for Australian women and families.