Ai Group welcomed the opportunity to lodge a submission regarding the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (More Support for Working Families) Bill 2023 (the Bill) currently before the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee.

The Bill follows the commencement of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Act 2022 (2022 PPL Amendments) on 26 March 2023. The 2022 PPL Amendments was the first ‘tranche’ of reforms to the Federal Government’s paid parental leave scheme that were announced by the Federal Government on 15 October 2022.

The Bill would amend the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth) (PPL Act) to implement the balance of the Federal Government’s announced reforms to its paid parental leave scheme. These changes were also announced as part of the October 2022-2023 Budget.

The Bill presents worthwhile and important changes to the Government’s paid parental leave scheme under the PPL Act as it relates to Australian families and broader equality.

With the inclusion of a 3-year review as a term of the Bill, Ai Group supports the Bill’s passage through Parliament.

Ai Group lodged an earlier submission with the Senate Committee in relation to the 2022 PPL Amendments that can be accessed here.