Today Baby Priya’s Bill was introduced to parliament. We are proud to have played a roll in getting to this point.
Thanks to every single one of you who also played a part by signing our petition, and especially to other grieving parents who told your own stories.
Below are the official statements we gave to the media today. There are also some links to media about today's developments.
Thanking you wholeheartedly
Priya’s Mum & Priya's Dad
Statement from Priya’s Mum:
"I have such conflicting feelings and emotions today. My heart aches with sadness, because more than anything I wish my daughter Priya was here with me. At the same time, today I feel such immense pride and joy knowing that she is creating meaningful change for future working parents in Australia. I am deeply grateful that her name will be enshrined in law soon, as Baby Priya’s Act. Given our situation, I can’t think of any better way of honouring my baby girl than having her name as the law and her name as part of history and a part of the future.
I still can’t believe how far we have come. There is no greater way to honour my little girl than to have her name forever tied to this law—a legacy that will touch countless lives. Priya lived for only 42 days, yet her presence left a profound imprint on me, my family, friends and now, on all of Australia. Though her time was brief, her impact will be everlasting. I will continue to love and honour my daughter every single day, and I promise to live my life in a way that makes her proud. My life will be my love letter to Priya. Today, and as always, I stand tall and proud to be Priya’s Mum.
I would like to thank my husband, Chris, for standing by me and supporting me in this life-changing endeavour and for honouring Priya alongside me. I would like to thank my parents for their immense support to this day. Especially my mum, thank you for your unwavering love and support for Priya and for cherishing her as much as I do. I am also grateful to my parents-in-law, our families here in Australia, and to my wonderful family overseas for their constant love, support, empathy and compassion.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Labor government for keeping their election promise and making this enormous dream of mine a reality. Thank you to the Prime Minister, The Honourable Mr Anthony Albanese, for the honour of your presence today. It means so much to me that you could attend today. A special thank you to The Honourable Minister, Ms Amanda Rishworth for your dedication and hard work in ensuring that this law change is taking place and for ensuring Priya’s name is written into law. Working with you and your wonderful team to bring this vision of mine to life has been extraordinary.
I also wish to thank Change.org, and especially Paige, for providing the platform that helped our voices be heard. To the Australian Services Union and Bears of Hope, thank you for supporting me and my cause from the very beginning. Thanks also to the media, reporters and writers who respectfully and sensitively told my story. I want to thank the strangers who are now friends, supporting me with my advocacy. And to our 32,371 supporters who signed Baby Priya’s Petition, this would not have been possible without you. I am forever grateful and indebted to you all. Your support, love and compassion has touched me deeply and left a forever profound impact on me and my life.
To every grieving parent, I want to acknowledge you with the deepest respect. You have endured the greatest pain imaginable, yet you continue to take one step at a time, day by day. I hope the world gives you sensitivity, compassion, kindness, support and some grace on an ongoing basis. For the working parents of stillborn babies and infant deaths, my hope is that this law will grant you the time, support, and financial assistance that are rightfully yours, so that you can have that time to take care of yourselves.
Finally, I want to thank my daughter, Priya. You have given me the strength and courage to make this change possible. You’ve given me a mother’s strength, the kind of strength that knows no bounds for her child. You are my greatest gift and I’m so deeply grateful to you. Priya, your Dad and I will forever love you to the moon and back, and back again.
With Love,
Priya's Mum"
Statement from Priya’s Dad:
"Baby Priya's Bill is an important step towards respecting the grief of working parents who suffer such tragedies as my wife and I did with the loss of our daughter Priya. It will make a real difference to grieving parents across Australia.
Labor’s new legislation will prevent parental leave being cancelled at the whim of employers in the tragic event of stillbirth or early infant death. Employers will be able to negotiate arrangements with unions for future enterprise agreements, but Labor's legislation sets the standard that employers cannot cancel already granted parental leave if no other agreement is in place.
The legislation is a tribute to my daughter Priya, and to the tireless efforts of my wife in raising awareness about the issue. I am very proud of the work my wife has done to honour Priya, whilst carrying the heartbreak of her loss.
I would like to thank the Australian Services Union, Bears of Hope and Change.org who supported our petition from the outset. I would like to thank over 30,000 people who signed our petition, and made this change possible. I would especially like to thank the many grieving parents who signed the petition and told their own stories in the comments.
The petition touched a nerve about respect at work, and the often unspoken topic of stillbirth and early infant death.
I am glad that other parents will not have their grief compounded, by being forced back to work unexpectedly.
It is worth speaking up for fair treatment at work, change is possible."
Priya's Dad
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17AMh7amDa/
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1783zLuTAH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/new-workplace-laws-aim-to-remove-extra-pain-burden-on-parents-arising-from-stillbirth/yxxby73uk
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9084851/six-week-old-priya-set-to-impact-countless-lives/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B9wjmHD5i/?mibextid=wwXIfr