Plea to super-size parental leave for those with two or more

Parents who have twins or triplets should have access to more paid parental leave and financial support, parenting bodies say.

Australian Multiple Birth Association director Silje Andersen-Cooke with partner Jordan and, from left, Erik, Ada, Teddy and Mads. Picture: Ricardo Figueredo Ochoa

Parents who have twins or triplets should have access to more paid parental leave and financial support, parenting bodies say, with new figures showing the majority experience mental health challenges and feel under-supported.

Labor last month announced it would expand the paid parental leave scheme from 20 to 26 weeks within four years and allow mothers and fathers to share the six months of leave paid at minimum wage in whatever way suited them.

However, the Australian Multiple Birth Association has written to the government urging it to do more to support parents of twins, triplets and quadruplets. An average of 4200 women give birth to multiple babies in Australia every year, with 54 of those giving birth to three or more children.

There is no additional paid parental leave for parents of twins. To be eligible for a payment of up to $170 a fortnight parents must have three babies and earn a combined income of less than $124,806. For parents with four babies or more, that payment is $227 a fortnight.

But a report by AMBA found that of the 1500 parents surveyed who had two or more children about 60 per cent faced mental health challenges, and more than 40 per cent said they were overwhelmed and exhausted.

AMBA director Silje Andersen-Cooke, who is the mother of nine-month-old triplets, said the report confirmed the need for paid parental leave to be assigned per child, not per birth.

“Having now had multiples, it comes with this unimaginable joy, but it also comes with difficulties,” the 27-year-old mother of four said. “We just want a fair go for parents of multiples, we want them to have same opportunities as parents of one child.”

Ms Anderson-Cooke said she was planning on meeting with the government to discuss the issue.

“We have three times the cost for nappies, three times the cost for formula, but it’s the same (payment),” she said. “We had to buy a new car … and a pram from overseas that cost more than $2000.”

Chief executive of advocacy group The Parenthood, Georgie Dent, said “the case for additional support is evident”.

“We know families in Australia have had access to limited support for some time, particularly in the realm of paid parental leave. We know even in giving birth to a ­single baby, the settings have been inadequate,” she said.

Countries such as Norway and France offer additional weeks of paid leave for parents of multiples in recognition of the extra financial and caring burdens.

Deputy director of Twins ­Research Australia, Jeffrey Craig, said studies showed ­having twins didn’t just double ­expenses for parents, but increased them by closer to five times.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was committed to a scheme that helped all families.

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a Paid Parental Leave scheme and childcare support that best facilitates all families to balance work and care,” Ms Rishworth said.

“We know that treating parenting as an equal partnership helps to improve gender equality.“

Opposition social services spokesman Michael Sukkar said he thought expanding the scheme for parents of multiples should be considered.

“There is a compelling case for parents of twins, triplets or more to receive additional financial support through paid parental leave, in recognition of the extra financial and medical burdens placed on parents in these situations.,” he said.

“Such a change would be modest and overdue recognition of the extraordinary efforts that parents of twins, triplets or more should be so proud of.”