Baby Priya’s Bill introduced to Parliament to provide certainty for grieving parents

Parents grieving the loss of a child will have more certainty about their employer-funded paid parental leave entitlements, under a Bill introduced to Federal Parliament today.

The Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya’s) Bill 2025 is named after Baby Priya who heartbreakingly died when she was just 42 days old.

After informing her employer that her child had passed away, Priya’s mum was faced with negotiating with her employer about a return to work she hadn’t planned for at the same time as grieving the loss of her child.  

This year, the government made a commitment to provide certainty for grieving parents in circumstances like those of Priya’s mum. 

The Bill introduces a new principle into the Fair Work Act that unless employers and employees have expressly agreed otherwise, employer-funded paid parental leave must not be cancelled because a child is stillborn or dies.

This brings it in line with government paid parental leave.

The Bill upholds the ability of employers and employees to negotiate and agree conditions dealing with stillbirth and infant death. Promoting enterprise bargaining and good faith workplace discussions is central to the government’s approach to workplace relations. 

Australia is one of the safest places in the world for a baby to be born. But sadly stillbirths and child loss do happen.

In 2022, more than 3,000 families lost a child to stillbirth or within the first 28 days of their birth. After Priya’s death, her parents advocated to ensure no other parent would ever have to face what they did.  

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth said Baby Priya’s Bill would offer at least some financial certainty to parents who suffer such a devastating loss.

“Such losses have a profound and long-lasting impact on parents, families and their communities,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Parents should not have to deal with uncertainty about their employer-funded paid parental leave entitlements on top of their grief.

“It is important that parents don’t find themselves having to negotiate with their employers over their leave arrangements at such a difficult moment, giving them time and space to grieve.

“This Bill will also alleviate any uncertainty for employees and managers.”

Minister Rishworth thanked Priya’s parents for their bravery and advocacy on this essential reform.

“No parent should ever have to go through what Priya’s mum experienced and that’s why our government has acted to safeguard these entitlements,” Minister Rishworth said.

“I would also like to thank employer representatives for their support.”