AUSTRALIA will finally join the rest of the Western world in introducing a paid parental leave scheme, but not until 2011.
The scheme will not be universal. About 140,000 stay-at-home mums - and the rich - will miss out, the Herald Sun reports.
But tens of thousands of women who work part-time or casually could end up getting more than their working wage.
Eligible parents will collect at least the minimum wage of $544 a week while on 18 weeks' leave to look after newborns.
Treasurer Wayne Swan used Mother's Day yesterday to announce the scheme, as final touches were applied to a Budget billed as the toughest in living memory.
An attack on middle-class welfare - including means-testing of the private health insurance rebate and elimination of lucrative superannuation concessions - will allow for tax cuts and an increase in age pensions.
But the Budget is still expected to plunge to a record deficit of about $60 billion, while borrowings will blow out to as much as $300 billion.
Consequently, the parental scheme is unlikely to begin until January 1, 2011 - possibly after the next election.
