Abbott's 'wrench' move on maternity leave

Tony Abbott admits it was "a bit of a wrench" to limit access to taxpayer-funded paid parental leave after spending years pushing for a more generous scheme.

The prime minister says a plan to end "double dipping" by new mums already getting paid maternity leave from their employer means the government can prioritise spending on child care and help expand the workforce.

"If you've got a massive surplus, you can do more than you can if you've got a significant deficit," he told reporters in Canberra.