STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms JARRETT (Brisbane) (13:53): It was like yesterday when I heard the news that I was about to become a parent. I'll never forget looking at my husband sitting opposite me as we saw two hearts beat. We were both thrilled and, if I'm honest, a little scared at the prospect.

I was particularly worried as I hadn't long been with my employer at the time and, by my calculations, I was going to be short of qualifying for paid parental leave, and that turned out to be the case. It was a huge financial blow to us, given the almost doubling of the cost—two cots, two strollers, two prams, two sets of nappies et cetera—but the good news is that this should never happen again as we now have government paid parental leave.

Even better, from this Wednesday, Labor is making paid parental leave longer and the payments bigger. Paid parental leave is going up to 26 weeks, and, with the minimum wage, parents will get approximately $200 a day. It was the Gillard Labor government that brought in 20 weeks of paid parental leave.

Then it stalled. Over nearly a decade, it went nowhere with those opposite. But, since the Albanese Labor government's been in power, it's gone up from 20 weeks to 22 weeks, 24 weeks and, now, 26 weeks.

Paid parental leave provides critical financial security, it improves maternal and infant health, and it fosters gender equality. It allows parents to be with their newborn and to grow together. It also removes that immediate stress of lost income while allowing mum and dad to retain a secure attachment to their employer.

This is a family policy, and I'm proud to be part of a Labor government that will always back— (Time expired)