Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to talk about multiple births. I want to talk about how far we have come on this issue and where we will go from here. You may remember me talking about this issue last year, questioning the representing minister on it, meeting with parliamentarians, begging for backing of the parliamentary friendship group. My argument was simple, and it still is: under the government-funded multiple birth allowance, twins are not considered a multiple birth, when they clearly should be. It's two babies—that's more than one, meaning it is multiple. In fact, the dictionary definition of 'multiple' is 'consisting of, including or involving more than one'. I'm not sure what private dictionary the government is using, but last time I checked two is in fact more than one. But I'm not here to talk about maths. Last time I questioned the representing minister, we learned that she does agree that the number two refers to multiples, except apparently when it comes to births.

A twin birth marks the beginning of a joyful journey for many parents and carers. It also marks the beginning of an expensive journey, one that is five times more expensive than a single birth—five times! The government's attitude is: at least it's not triplets. They're even more expensive, apparently, but that is not helpful or fair. All parents of multiple births should be supported equitably, not left to their own devices because they were blessed with two children, not one or three. This is why, with the encouragement and guidance of the Australian Multiple Birth Association, we decided to establish the Parliamentary Friends of Multiple Births. Tomorrow's event is not just another gathering in a busy parliamentary calendar; it's a statement that families with multiples deserve to be seen, heard and supported.

The Parliamentary Friends of Multiple Births group is about bringing people together across party lines. This is not a partisan issue—babies are not partisan. This group is also about education. Many people in this place, including me, have never had to load two newborns into car seats at the same time, pay double childcare fees from the very first day or navigate systems that too often treat a twin birth as a simple extension of a single birth. When we understand the reality, we legislate better. When we listen to families, we do our jobs better. The parliamentary friends group will allow us to hear directly from parents, carers, medical professionals, researchers and advocacy organisations. It will allow us to ask the simple question: are our definitions fit for purpose? Right now they are not. When twins are excluded from the multiple birth allowance, we are effectively saying to families, 'Yes, we recognise you have more than one baby, but not in a way that counts.' That simply does not pass the pub test.

This is about fairness. A twin birth is incredible, but it also brings unique challenges: higher rates of premature birth, longer hospital stays and greater medical oversight. There is double the feeding, doubled the settling, double the equipment and, often, double the childcare fees at the same time, which can push parents—usually mothers—out of the workforce. If we are serious about women's economic participation, cost-of-living relief and supporting families in the early years, we must be serious about supporting families with multiple births. The parliamentary friendship group will also provide continuity. Governments change, ministers change and priorities change, but a cross-party friendship group helps ensure the issue remains on the agenda. It will create a home in this parliament for families of multiples. The launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Multiple Births is a beginning, not an end.

In addition to the Multiple Birth Association, I want to thank Assistant Minister Ged Kearney and Louise Miller-Frost MP, and their offices, for their strong support in tackling this issue. We will continue working with the government to reform the multiple birth allowance—so that twins are recognised—and highlight the lived experience of families raising multiples. At its heart, this issue is simple. If multiple means more than one, then our policy should reflect that. If we truly value families, which I know all of us in this chamber do, then we should support all families equitably. The Parliamentary Friends of Multiple Births group is one step towards that goal, and I, for one, am excited to see where it goes.