New mums must pick one type of leave

New mothers will have to choose between taxpayer-funded paid parental leave and whatever their employer offers under a crack down on "double dipping".

The government scheme offers 18 weeks leave at minimum wage, presently worth about $11,500, and mothers are allowed to access it on top of leave benefits offered by their employer.

But in a bid to save $968 million over the next four years, from July 2016 the government will restrict access to the scheme.

Only those workers whose employer has no paid parental leave will be allowed to get the full $11,500.

If the entitlements offered in a workplace adds up to less than that amount the government will still let mothers use taxpayer funds to top up their leave.