The Norris Park resident was reacting to a recommendation that the Federal Government fund paid parental leave, which would see new parents be eligible for up to $12,000.

“If it was offered I would probably have gone back to work earlier,” the mother of 20-month-old Charlie said.

“I’ve had about a year off and I’ve just gone back for a couple of days from about two months ago.”

Mrs MacLean said paid maternity leave would be an incentive to return to work.

Wodonga mother Sandra Taylor, who had son Ethan 19 months ago, has resumed working as an occupational therapist two days a week since his first birthday.

“I think (18-weeks’ paid parental leave) would make things a lot easier, because not many people can afford to stay home for too long,” Mrs Taylor said.

“When you have a baby it’s usually your prime mortgage time, so not many people have the luxury of staying at home.”

A recommendation to end the baby bonus was reasonable.

“If they’re going to replace the baby bonus with maternity leave that’s fair enough and it spreads it out longer than a lump sum,” she said.

Former petrol station attendant Nicole Luftensteiner, of Wodonga, has no immediate plans to re-enter the workforce after giving birth to Makenna in July.

She paid parental leave would be “beneficial, but I would still want to stay at home with my bub”.