BORDER families in limbo since the federal government resumed its push to claw back paid parental leave may have been thrown a lifeline.
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The government this week reintroduced legislation to cut paid parental leave to tens of thousands of new mothers nationwide from January 1.
But on Wednesday crucial crossbench senators argued women who were pregnant now should not be caught up in the changes.
Under the legislation working mothers who have access to an employer-paid scheme would no longer be eligible for the full 18 weeks of taxpayer-funded leave.
The federal opposition has said it would not support the change, which would see thousands of mothers out of pocket by more than $10,000.
East Albury woman Leah Wiseman, who is due in late January with her fourth child, said the proposed clawback impacted on parents who had already done their family budgets.
The Albury Wodonga Health employee said she was grateful for her employer’s 14 weeks’ paid parental leave but disappointed the government scheme was in jeopardy.
“I think we’re still so far behind what other developed countries are offering new parents in paid leave schemes,” she said.
“I think we should be supporting working mums in whatever way possible and enabling them time so they can get back to work in the best possible mental and physical health.”
Senator Nick Xenophon said on Wednesday the planned start date was "de facto retrospective" and would affect women who were pregnant now.
"To have such a scheme introduced at this stage to start from January 1 would be manifestly unfair," he said.
Presently women can access their employer's scheme plus the government's scheme, which pays the minimum wage for 18 weeks.
Under the new Coalition policy, women who had an employer scheme would only be able to access the government scheme to top up to 18 weeks.
Opposition spokeswoman for Social Services, Jenny Macklin, said Labor’s original paid parental scheme aimed to complement employer-funded leave.
“That was the recommendation of the Productivity Commission, which we adopted and it has meant that around 700,000 families have benefited and of course that also has delivered very, very important time at home for mothers and fathers with their newborn babies.”
