Australia Extends Government-Funded Parental Leave to Six Months

New parents in Australia will be entitled to six months of government-funded parental leave from 2026, up six weeks from current levels.

Entitlements will rise incrementally by two weeks per year until 2026, under legislation which passed the Senate on Monday, with one month of leave entitlement to be reserved for partners. The government said it hoped to encourage fathers to take on more caring responsibilities.

The leave is paid at the national minimum wage to parents who have a combined income of less than A$350,000 ($230,000) a year.

“A parental leave system that empowers the full and equal participation ...