Petition updateBaby Priya's Petition - Don't cancel maternity leave for infant death or stillbirthCoalition to back Labor's proposed parental leave changes for stillbirth or early infant death
Priya's MumSydney, Australia
Apr 23, 2025

In response to Baby Priya's Petition Labor's Employment Relations Minister Murray Watt promised that a  "A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will legislate to guarantee that working parents dealing with stillbirth and early infant death can continue to access their employer-paid paid parental leave (PPL).  This will be achieved by amending the Fair Work Act 2009 to clarify that an employee’s entitlement to employer PPL cannot be cancelled by an employer"

The Coalition responded today. After not supporting Labor's legislation in 2021, the Coalition will now support the proposed changes in the wake of Priya's Mum's story and the public support shown for Baby Priya's Petition.  

Opposition Workplace Relations Senator Michaela Cash emailed Priya's Mum saying  "The Coalition strongly supports amending the Fair Work Act to ensure individuals like yourself who suffer the tragedy of losing a child whilst on parental leave, including through stillbirth, will not have that leave cancelled by their employer."

"Should the Coalition be successful at the election on 3 May, the Coalition will work to ensure that these changes are put into effect as quickly as possible.

Given the Government’s response, you can be assured that this change will have bipartisan support through the Parliament regardless of who wins the election."

The NSW Greens have also told Priya's Mum they will put up a motion in NSW Parliament in the next sitting week recognising and supporting this important change.

Priya's Mum says "The news of the pledged changes has been bittersweet to me. I wish I never had to go through such trauma by my workplace, and that it had been a given right to me to get my maternity leave. The other part of me is so very happy that because of my daughter Priya, no other parents with infant deaths or stillborn babies will need to worry about their parental leave being cancelled and no other baby who has passed will be dismissed by their parents employers the way my baby was dismissed and disrespected by my employer. The announcement is also a tribute to everybody who signed and shared the petition and every grieving parent who has contributed. 

I am thankful to Minister Murray Watt and his team for honouring Baby Priya. I am thankful and happy to get the news today that the Coalition has agreed to support my cause as well, to change the legislation so that employers can't cancel paid parental leave in the event of infant death or stillborn babies. Everyday, my dream of what I have worked for is becoming more and more a reality and I know that my baby is helping and supporting me from above and showing me the power of Priya."

Priya's Dad says "We welcome all of the commitments to change the law. If the changes had have been made in 2021, my wife would not have been treated so appallingly by her employer. Minister Watt's promise, and the Coalition's subsequent support for this issue, is a tribute to everyone who signed the petition, to all the people who left comments on the petition, the bereaved parents who supported us, and to organisations like Bears of Hope and the Australian Services Union who also shared the petition on social media." 

Thanking you wholeheartedly

Priya’s Mum & Priya's Dad

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