The Queensland Police Union has this week partnered with the Queensland Council of Unions in a joint campaign pushing for equal paid parental leave across the state public sector.

The campaign is calling for commitments from both Labor and the LNP to assure workers of their job security, fair wages and improvements to paid parental leave.

Queensland Unions says the commitment, part of bargaining agreements due to be renegotiated from March next year for police, health, and education workers, represents an important recruitment and retention package for many essential workers who provide key public sector services throughout the state.

On Equal Pay Day this year, Queensland Unions launched the Share the Care campaign for 18 weeks paid parental leave across the public sector for parents and caregivers of all genders. The campaign aims to remove discriminatory agreements where primary caregivers (primarily women) access 14 weeks paid leave and secondary caregivers (primarily men and partners) only access one week’s paid leave.

Since the launch, the peak body and public sector unions have been meeting with public sector employees, gathering personal stories in support of the reform for the campaign post-election.

Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior said the reforms would offer support to all parents.

“Many police officers are parents or planning their future families. Improved and competitive paid parental leave entitlements and rights are critical for their retention,” he said.

“These reforms will also ensure the Queensland Police Service is able to attract long term police officers as an employer of choice in an extremely tight job market.

“As a recent new father for the third time, my wife and I know first-hand how important the first few months are in a child’s development, and how limiting current paid parent leave entitlements are, which mean only one parent can take the full 14 weeks paid leave.”

Queensland Council of Unions described achieving the reforms as an important piece of the puzzle to support the state’s essential workforce of nurses, teachers and police, who turn up around the clock for the community.

“In 2024, all working parents – whether you’re a mum, a dad or a partner, should be able to have equal rights and equal entitlements to help share the care of their young children, without the fear of this break negatively impacting their bank balance, career progression, and retirement outlook,” she said.

“Current Queensland public sector conditions fall behind international standards for at least 18 weeks leave, with primary caregivers only having access to 14 weeks and secondary caregivers one week.

“Queensland Unions are asking for the removal of the distinction between primary and secondary caregivers as a discriminatory measure and to ensure that both parents get equal rights to help care for their children.”

Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Secretary Sarah Beaman said the QNMU is one of 28 Queensland unions in the QCU alliance campaigning for 18 weeks PPL for each parent or carer – or a total of 36 weeks PPL for a couple.

“While the world has progressed in many ways, women continue to be assumed into the role of primary caregiver and make up 95% of workers accessing paid or unpaid parental leave,” she said.

“This begins during pregnancy and continues from birth, with women traditionally juggling paid work, school hours, holiday care, children’s illnesses, general wellbeing, social activities, sport, education and a myriad of unpaid domestic duties. 

“Many women are automatically assumed to want to be the primary carer. However, it’s imperative women, and all primary carers, have choice – and the option of practical, paid support from their partner, their partner’s employer and modernised pay and entitlement mechanisms.  

“Current leave structures see working mothers continue to take on significantly more caring responsibilities – and they fall behind financially as a result.”

“The Share the Care campaign aims to eradicate gender discrimination with the introduction of modernised practical measures that provide men with the option to provide care – and spend more time with their children.”