The debate as to whether government should fund paid maternity leave to an ILO standard has received greater scrutiny following an interim report by the Human Rights Commission released in April. An Australian Democrats Bill to introduce paid maternity leave was tabled in May, and is under review by the Senate Employment Committee. This e-Brief reviews the development of paid and unpaid maternity leave, the various international instruments concerning maternity leave and canvasses some of the arguments for and against such leave.