Government softening parental leave policy

The federal government is softening its controversial crackdown on mothers "double-dipping" on paid parental leave.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter on Wednesday confirmed he is looking to reconfigure the policy, which the coalition has so far failed to get support for.

"I am working through with the crossbench on some other structural models that we might be able to find some shared ground (on)," he told Sky News.

The mid-year economic and fiscal outlook released on Tuesday showed a reduction in the savings expected from the policy change to the tune of more than $35 million.

"Which gives you some indication we are looking at a way, in conjunction with the crossbench, to try and soften the policy somewhat," he said. Mr Porter would not confirm a report in The Australian, saying new parents would be able to top up their employer's leave, with the government scheme, to get a full 18 weeks, but said he was working on the principle of that time frame.

He still insisted there are a "large number" of people in the community who receive generous leave from their employer and then add to it with the government-funded scheme. "Now I'm not convinced and I don't think it is a convincing argument that that is a very good use of taxpayer's money," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said working mums get very nervous when they hear the Liberal Party is having another look at paid parental leave.

For more than two years the government has been dabbling and trying to "do over" mothers who may be able to get some leave from their workplace, he said.

"My best advice to the Malcolm Turnbull-Scott Morrison team is: please, don't penalise working mums who've got good industrial conditions - where they get some paid parental leave from their workplace - and don't undermine the public safety net," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney.