Revealed: Mums and dads win big under new public sector parental leave scheme

Paramedics, police officers, teachers and other public sector workers across the state can now spend more precious time with their young babies under a major policy change.

Mums and dads will get more time with their newborn babies under a major overhaul of public sector paid parental leave.

Public sector workers will now be able to claim 14 weeks of leave regardless of whether they are the primary or secondary carer of their child with an additional “bonus leave” of two weeks available to families who equally share the parenting workload.

The move will allow more mums to return to the workforce by dramatically increasing the leave available to dads and secondary carers, which was previously only two weeks.

Single parents will be entitled to the full 16 weeks of paid leave and the time off can be used by all parents for up to two years after the birth of a baby or an adoption, surrogacy or out-of-home care arrangement.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the flexible new scheme will help strengthen families and women’s career and economic opportunities.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: Dylan Coker

“Giving parents the support and real options to share care in the early years of their child’s life, lets families choose what works for them,” he said.

“Giving fathers the option to spend more time with their young ones and mothers the option to return to work when it suits them will build strong foundations for families.”

Private sector workers are dictated by the federal government parental leave scheme which gives secondary carers just two weeks of paid parental leave at the federal minimum wage.

Treasurer Matt Kean encouraged other governments and the private sector to follow NSW’s equal leave approach.

“The NSW Government is the largest employer in Australia, and we are leading the way by ensuring families of all shapes and sizes will benefit from these pioneering changes,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the new policy will be the cornerstone for safeguarding women‘s participation in the workforce.

Both parents can now access 14 weeks of leave. Picture: AndreaObzerova

“Paid parental leave created with gender equality at its core will contribute to increased participation in the workforce, improved economic opportunities and greater financial wellbeing for women,” she said.

Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors managing director Luis Izzo said the federal government would need to follow NSW’s equal leave system if they want private businesses to follow.

“For all private sector employers across Australia, the paid parental leave that is available is under the federal scheme. So going from two weeks to 14 or 18 weeks is a significant gap,” he said.

“The difficulty is simply one about the cost. This is all being borne by the employer. If society and the government want to increase the prevalence of companies providing secondary carer paid leave then a good way to increase access to that (federal) scheme.”