Summary

Edit

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.

Votes Not passed by a modest majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Greens (91% turnout) 10 Yes 0 No
Penny Allman-Payne Queensland Yes
Dorinda Cox WA Yes
Mehreen Faruqi NSW Yes
Sarah Hanson-Young SA Yes
Nick McKim Tasmania Yes
Janet Rice Victoria Yes
David Shoebridge NSW Yes
Jordon Steele-John WA Yes
Larissa Waters Queensland Yes
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania Yes
Barbara Pocock SA Absent
Australian Labor Party (75% turnout) 0 Yes 18 No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania No
Carol Brown Tasmania No
Anthony Chisholm Queensland No
Raff Ciccone Victoria No
Varun Ghosh WA No
Nita Green Queensland No
Karen Grogan SA No
Jenny McAllister NSW No
Malarndirri McCarthy NT No
Deborah O'Neill NSW No
Fatima Payman WA No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Louise Pratt WA No
Tony Sheldon NSW No
Marielle Smith SA No
Anne Urquhart Tasmania No
Jess Walsh Victoria No
Murray Watt Queensland No
Tim Ayres NSW Absent
Don Farrell SA Absent
Katy Gallagher ACT Absent
Glenn Sterle WA Absent
Jana Stewart Victoria Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT Country Liberal Party Absent
Andrew McLachlan SA Deputy President No
David Pocock ACT Independent Yes
Lidia Thorpe Victoria Independent Yes
David Van Victoria Independent Absent
Jacqui Lambie Network (100% turnout) 0 Yes 2 No
Jacqui Lambie Tasmania No
Tammy Tyrrell Tasmania No
Liberal National Party (0% turnout) Absent
Matthew Canavan Queensland Absent
James McGrath Queensland Absent
Liberal Party (17% turnout) 0 Yes 4 No
Sarah Henderson Victoria No
Matt O'Sullivan WA No
Linda Reynolds WA No
Anne Ruston SA No
Alex Antic SA Absent
Wendy Askew Tasmania Absent
Simon Birmingham SA Absent
Andrew Bragg NSW Absent
Slade Brockman WA Absent
Michaelia Cash WA Absent
Claire Chandler Tasmania Absent
Richard Colbeck Tasmania Absent
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania Absent
David Fawcett SA Absent
Hollie Hughes NSW Absent
Jane Hume Victoria Absent
Maria Kovacic NSW Absent
Kerrynne Liddle SA Absent
James Paterson Victoria Absent
Gerard Rennick Queensland Absent
Paul Scarr Queensland Absent
Dave Sharma NSW Absent
Dean Smith WA Absent
National Party (25% turnout) 0 Yes 1 No
Perin Davey NSW No
Ross Cadell NSW Absent
Susan McDonald Queensland Absent
Bridget McKenzie Victoria Absent
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (50% turnout) 0 Yes 1 No
Malcolm Roberts Queensland No
Pauline Hanson Queensland Absent
Sue Lines WA President Absent
Ralph Babet Victoria United Australia Party No
Totals (53% turnout) 12 Yes – 28 No