18th Mar 2024, 12:17 PM – Senate Paid Parental Leave Amendment (More Support for Working Families) Bill 2023 - in Committee - 12 months of leave by 2030

The majority voted against requests for amendment introduced by Queensland Senator Larissa Waters (Greens), which means they failed.

What do these requests for amendments do?

Senator Waters explained that:

This amendment would implement one of the recommendations of the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce, whose recommendations, sadly, have been largely gathering dust on the shelf, despite them all being extremely meritorious. This amendment would say: 'Let's move up to 12 months paid parental leave [PPL] by 2030.' Australia has been lagging behind comparable countries in terms of the length of PPL and, I might add, in terms of the rate. This amendment would redress that and would move us up to international best practice of 12 months by 2030.

Amendment text

That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendments:

(1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (lines 13 to 18), omit the item, substitute:

4 Paragraph 21(1)(a)

Omit all the words after "a total of", substitute:

": (i) if the child is born before 1 July 2024—10 flexible PPL days; or

(ii) if the child is born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025—20 flexible PPL days; or

(iii) if the child is born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026—25 flexible PPL days; or

(iv) if the child is born between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027—25 flexible PPL days; or

(v) if the child is born between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2028—30 flexible PPL days; or

(vi) if the child is born between 1 July 2028 and 30 June 2029—35 flexible PPL days; or

(vii) if the child is born between 1 July 2029 and 30 June 2030—35 flexible PPL days; or

(viii) if the child is born on or after 1 July 2030—40 flexible PPL days; and".

(2) Schedule 1, item 12, page 8 (lines 24 to 29), omit paragraphs 31ABA(1)(b) to (d), substitute:

(b) for a child born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025—130 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(c) for a child born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026—150 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(d) for a child born between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027—170 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(e) for a child born between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2028—190 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(f) for a child born between 1 July 2028 and 30 June 2029—210 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(g) for a child born between 1 July 2029 and 30 June 2030—230 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(h) for a child born on or after 1 July 2030—260 flexible PPL days for the child.

(3) Schedule 1, item 12, page 9 (lines 11 to 16), omit paragraphs 31ABA(2)(b) to (d), substitute:

(b) for a child born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025—110 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(c) for a child born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026—125 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(d) for a child born between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027—145 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(e) for a child born between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2028—160 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(f) for a child born between 1 July 2028 and 30 June 2029—175 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(g) for a child born between 1 July 2029 and 30 June 2030—195 flexible PPL days for the child; or

(h) for a child born on or after 1 July 2030—220 flexible PPL days for the child.

Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

Amendment (2) is framed as a request because it amends the bill to bring forward the increase in the maximum number of days for which paid parental leave can be paid from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2024. The amendment also progressively increases the maximum number of days for which paid parental leave can be paid at the start of each financial year starting between 1 July 2025 and 1 July 2030.

As this will increase the total amount of paid parental leave that can be paid in relation to children born on or after 1 July 2024, the amendment will increase the amount of expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 307 of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.

Amendments (1) and (3)

Amendments (1) and (3) are consequential to amendment (2).

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 307 of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendments (1) and (3)

These amendments are consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.