Last month, the Australian Government passed landmark
legislation called the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Act
2025, providing additional protections for employees who
receive employer-funded paid parental leave.
Under Baby Priya's Law, employers are prohibited from
refusing or cancelling an employee's paid parental leave if
their child is stillborn or dies, as long as the employee would
have been entitled to the leave otherwise.
Employers that refuse to allow an employee to take the leave
they would otherwise be entitled to, or cancel any part of that
leave without express request by the employee, will be liable for
civil penalties up to $198,000 for serious breaches.
Baby Priya's Law, effective 7 November 2025, covers paid
parental leave for the birth of the employee's child, their
spouse or de facto partner's child, or the placement of a child
for adoption.
