Australia, 2026-27 rates
How much paternity leave do you actually get?
Five questions. Your weeks, paid and unpaid, your dollars at this year's rate, and the three dates you cannot miss. Every number links to the government page it came from.
Born on or after 1 July 2026
130 paid days for the family
- Reserved for the partner, 20 days
- Reserved for the birth parent, 20 days
- To share, 90 days
Each day pays $200.94 before tax. The 20 reserved partner days are worth $4,019, and if the partner never claims them the family loses them.
The short version
"Paternity leave" is not a legal term in Australia any more. What you get is a mix of three things.
- 1
Unpaid leave from your employer. 12 months, federal law.
The Fair Work Act gives each parent up to 12 months unpaid parental leave after 12 months continuous service Up to 130 of those days can be taken one at a time, any time in the first 24 months. Your state changes none of this.
- 2
Parental Leave Pay from the government. 26 weeks for the family.
Services Australia pays the national minimum wage, $200.94 a day in 2026-27, for up to 130 days per family for babies born on or after 1 July 2026. 20 days are reserved for each parent, and only 20 days can be taken at the same time.
- 3
Paid leave from your employer. Only if they offer it.
There is no legal minimum in the private sector. State and territory governments pay their own staff parental leave under their enterprise agreements, and that is the only place your state matters. See NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Verified against Services Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman on 11 September 2026. Rates and day counts change every 1 July.