The approach to paid parental leave (PPL) policy design and rollout in Australia has been complex and slow when compared internationally. Australia was one of the last OECD nations to adopt a government-funded national scheme in 2011 and it remains one of the least generous in terms of both the length and the amount of paid leave. After more than a decade of inaction to modernise and adequately fund PPL, Australia's scheme has not kept pace and now lags significantly behind the majority of other OECD nations. Consequently, the impact is felt across our economy and society.

Australia's progress on women's economic participation and opportunity is regressing, according to the World Economic Forum. We have a very gendered division of labour by international standards. Australia's current parental leave provisions are no longer considered adequate or fit for purpose.

This insightful paper brings to the fore an extensive exploration of the ‘untold story’ of Australia's parental leave history and its impacts. The paper matches historical movements with specific laws highlighting the intricacies of how Australia compares and contrasts between Canada, Germany and Sweden and why reform is needed.

It provides a solid baseline from which policymakers can apply international research and evidence to design a competitive, world-class PPL scheme for Australia into the next decade. At whilst there is a renewed appetite by the current federal government to further invest in paid parental leave and childcare with new policies coming into effect by 2024, fundamentally, this paper begs the question, will it be enough?

This paper asks: ‘who cares about the next generation?’, a crucial question that both government and business must confront and rise to meet in a post- Covid economy – the act of care-giving and role of caregivers in our society has never been more exposed as under-valued and under-invested in.

The beneficiaries of well-funded, accessible, gender-equal PPL are not only women and children, in terms of improved health and economic security. It also facilitates greater workforce inclusion and normalises men's ability to contribute to caregiving responsibilities, strengthening family relationships and driving greater economic output. The evidence is clear, PPL is good for families, businesses and our overall economic growth.