The weeks after a child is born are supposed to be a time of joy, but for the mother and father of baby Priya, their time turned to heartbreak. 

Priya died at just 42 days old. 

Then, in the midst of coming to terms with their family’s heartbreaking loss, Priya’s mother, who has chosen not to be identified, soon found herself in negotiations over returning to work.

“I thought at the time that it was terribly unfair,” says her husband Chris, “I got leave and she didn’t.”

Around 1 per cent of babies born in Australia each year are stillbirths or result in neonatal deaths, and six babies are stillborn every single day, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 

Until today, there were no legal protections for parents to keep their employer-paid parental leave entitlements in those tragic circumstances. 

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said Priya’s mother’s story is not uncommon.

“In some circumstances we’ve had employers immediately cancel that leave and ask parents to take annual leave, and if they don’t have annual leave, to come back to work straight away.”

Hurt and appalled by her treatment, Priya’s mother and father, Chris, decided to start a petition to change that.

It soon gained 30,000 signatures and their advocacy eventually made it to Canberra.

Today, the government introduced the ‘Baby Priya Bill’ to parliament.

It aims to change the Fair Work Act so that employers can’t cancel employer-funded paid parental leave if a child is stillborn or dies.

“My hope is that this law will grant [parents] the time, support and financial assistance that are rightfully yours, so that you can have the time to take care of yourselves,” Priya’s mother said.

“Priya lived for only 42 days yet her presence left a profound imprint on me, my family, friends, and now on all of Australia.

“Though her time was brief, her impact will be everlasting,” she said.

The family today met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his office after the bill was introduced to Parliament. 

But today’s win is bittersweet.

“My whole adult life I have tried to make the world a better place and to get that in a small way is really heartening, but on the other hand we would rather have our daughter,” Chris said while fighting back tears.

While speaking at Parliament House, Priya’s mother had a message for her daughter, who sparked this journey for the family.

“You have given me the strength and courage to make this change possible.

“You have given me a mother’s strength, the kind of strength that knows no bounds for her child.

“Priya, your dad and I will love you forever, to the moon and back and back again.”

The bill still needs to pass parliament, but the Opposition has indicated it is likely to support the bill, meaning it should sail through the Senate and become law in coming weeks.