I was half-asleep at the time but I think they're talking about introducing it from Jan 1 2011 @ 18 weeks minimum wage of about $540 per week provided that the primary carer earns below $150K per year. They reckon they need this long to educate businesses about how to implement it ie. they want businesses to administer the payment even though it will come out of government coffers.

It will replace the baby bonus and Family Tax Benefit B.
This is what I heard too.
Paid mat. leave would be for working parents earning less that $150K
BB and FTB would remain in place for non working parents.