Red Wiggle Simon Pryce takes stand on paid parental leave for fathers: 'It puts a lot of pressure on families'

READ MORE: Red Wiggle Simon Pryce, 50, reveals the 'anxiety and stress' behind the scenes of The Wiggles

Children’s entertainer Simon Pryce is taking a stand on an issue he says impacts many families across Australia, urging the federal government to take action.

The Wiggles star, 51, told The Daily Telegraph on Monday that welcoming his son Asher in 2021 made him understand the importance of paid parental leave for fathers.

‘Being a father is a serious job that puts a lot of pressure on families. This can be a really important way in which those responsibilities can be shared,’ he began.

‘The pressures of living are enough without everything else on top of it.’

Simon has now joined a ‘dad’s alliance’ with several other famous father’s, including Hamish Blake and Bluey star David McCormack, to call on the federal government to grant 12 weeks paid parental leave to dad’s.

Children’s entertainer Simon Pryce is taking a stand on an issue he says impacts many families across Australia, urging the federal government to take action. Pictured: Simon and his wife Lauren Hannaford and their son Asher

The Sydney-born star said this would make a huge difference to the lives of new fathers, who would now have the time to witness several milestones with their children.

‘In a weird way, we were fortunate because we had Asher during Covid… I wasn’t out on the road touring.

‘We have a really wonderful special bond now, because of the early months we got to share together,’ he added.

Current federal government legislation grants fathers two weeks paid parental leave to care for their children, with the option of extending it unpaid.

The Wiggles star, 51, told The Daily Telegraph on Monday that welcoming his son Asher in 2021 made him understand the importance of paid parental leave for fathers

Simon married his fitness expert partner Lauren Hannaford in 2017 and they welcomed their son Asher in 2021.

Simon announced the happy news via Instagram, revealing the pair had named their son Asher William.

‘I am so overcome with emotion and overwhelming feelings of love that it’s impossible to put in to words everything I am feeling right now,’ he wrote.

‘Lauren and I are so fortunate, happy and blessed to have you in our lives. Welcome to the world ASHER WILLIAM PRYCE. In an instant, I can’t imagine my life without you being here’ he added.

Simon joined The Wiggles in 2013, replacing founding member Murray Cook.

Simon has joined a ‘dad’s alliance’ with several other famous father’s, including Hamish Blake and Bluey star David McCormack, to call on the federal government to grant 12 weeks paid parental leave to dads