Australia Enacts Further Parental Leave Protections

Amendments to Australia’s Fair Work Act 2009 that took effect Nov. 7 ensure that employers generally cannot unilaterally cancel or refuse to provide employer-paid parental leave when the child that is the subject of the parental leave is stillborn or dies.

The amendments, known as the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya’s) Act 2025, apply when an employee is entitled to employer-paid parental leave under their terms of employment and intends to take leave for the birth of their or their spouse or partner’s child or when adopting a child. Under the act, employers cannot refuse to provide the parental ...