In Austria, at the federal parliamentary level, members of parliament will be excused to take “maternity leave” when appropriate. There is no provision or practice that allows a member of parliament to take parental leave (that is, and have a substitute for his/her absence from parliament during that period). It is noteworthy, however, that some regional councils in Austria have adopted maternity, paternity and/or parental leave for parliamentarians. In terms of paternity leave, seven respondents (46.7%) noted that the provisions are the same as those prescribed by national law, while two parliaments had adopted their own policies (Latvia and New Zealand).