I don't know if this has been posted somewhere else? Sorry if it has, I couldn't see it anywhere.

Productivity Commission proposals for 20 weeks of government funded paid parental leave would bring relief and financial security to tens of thousands of families, the ACTU says.

Under a taxpayer-funded scheme proposed by the Productivity Commission today, mothers would be able to take 18 weeks paid maternity leave and fathers two weeks, or vice-versa.

?Working women right across Australia will be smiling today,? Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow told reporters.

?Eighteen weeks of paid maternity leave and indeed two weeks of paternity leave allowing fathers and partners to be part of the birth process, this is terrific news.?

The commission recommends the leave be paid at the minimum wage of $544 a week and replace the $5,000 baby bonus.

Ms Burrow said the recommendations were a first step. The ACTU would continue campaigning on a number of issues, including non-working mothers receiving an equivalent 18-week payment and allowing women to take 36 weeks paid leave at half rates.

The ACTU would ask employers to top up the government-paid minimum wage to make up recipients? actual income.

?Employers get off lightly because their only contribution in this model is to pay the superannuation,? Ms Burrow said.

Under the commission?s recommendations, the employer would pay for workers? nine per cent superannuation entitlements.

Ms Burrow said she hoped the government accepted the recommendations and introduced the changes next year.

MELBOURNE
AAP
What I read in todays paper, was that this is indeed happening, but rather than replacing the baby bonus, it will be as well as the baby bonus AND the paid maternity leave is only available to women working a certain amount (10 hrs a week I think) in the last 12 months before their baby was born, and Dad will be eligible for 2 weeks paternity leave. . . wtf? It doesn't make much sense to me. Paid paternity leave is fantastic but why the hell should it only be available for women who met the work criteria?! What does the mothers work have to do with paternity leave?! That's ridiculous. The whole thing sounds very strange. Does anyone have some actual definitive information about this? I'm getting different info from different places.