Public servants are expected to embrace Tony Abbott's paid parental leave scheme in "overwhelming numbers", according to the Coalition.
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The prediction comes despite a crackdown on "double-dipping" by state and federal employees forming a key financial offset of Mr Abbott's scheme.
Under a Coalition government, public sector workers would be offered a choice; to take their parental leave under Mr Abbott's scheme or to stay with their employer's plan.
The opposition is offering 26 weeks at full pay, with an income cut-off of $150,000, compared with the Australian Public Service's mandated offer of 52 weeks maternity leave with 14 weeks paid at the employee's full salary with no upper pay limit.
It is understood that a small number of federal agencies and departments can receive up to 18 weeks parental leave paid at their full salaries.
Workers in the Victorian and NSW public services are entitled to 14 weeks maternity leave paid at full salary.
Crucially, under a Coalition government, bureaucrats would not be able to avail themselves of their employer's scheme plus the 18 weeks at minimum wage promised by Labor, described by the opposition as "double dipping". The details of the assumptions underpinning the Coalition's scheme were published on Wednesday by shadow treasurer Joe Hockey and finance spokesman Andrew Robb.
"Commonwealth and state public sector employees will be given the choice of using their existing schemes or using the new Coalition scheme," the document reads. "The overwhelming majority are expected to choose the new Coalition scheme, with the savings of $1.2 billion to the Commonwealth and state governments being applied to offset the cost of the Coalition scheme."
The shadow ministers say that no state government would be a dollar worse off under their plan.
The costings document goes on to detail how the Coalition believes the scheme, which will cost $9.8 million during the four-year forward estimates period, would actually add $1.1 billion to the budget bottom line.
"The net cost of the paid parental scheme after these offsets is $3.3 billion," according to the document. "This is fully covered by a levy of 1.5 per cent on companies with taxable income over $5 million a year, raising $4.4 billion over the forward estimates."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd kept up Labour's attack on the Coalition's scheme yesterday, deriding it as unaffordable and unfairly skewed toward high earners.
''For the life of me, guys, I can't work out why this bloke thinks it's a fair go to provide $75,000 for a billionaire to go off and have a baby,'' Mr Rudd said.