Flexible paid leave plan for new parents

Paid parental leave will be more flexible for new parents under a Morrison government proposal.

Under the current scheme parents must take leave for a continuous period of up to 18 weeks, to be claimed within one year of a child being born or adopted.

But the government has introduced draft legislation to parliament on Thursday which would allow parents to split the 18-week period in two.

The first block of leave must be taken in a continuous period of 12 weeks, to be used within one year of a child being born or adopted.

Parents can then keep the remaining six weeks - which equals 30 working days - up their sleeve to use flexibly until the child is two.

Government minister Alan Tudge said parents could decide how they use up the 30 days, either using it in a continuous block or returning to work a few days a week.

Parents with babies born after July 1 will be eligible for the new scheme, pending the legislation passing parliament.

The proposal would cost $25 million over four years.

The leave only applies to the "primary carer".