Parental Leave

Thousands of pregnant women will lose money under a government crackdown on paid parental leave.

A heavily pregnant woman Source: Andrew Matthews/PA wire

Laws to limit access to the paid parental leave scheme are before parliament and could start as soon as January.

That means women who are pregnant now could miss out on benefits.

Labor says tens of thousands of women will be worse off each year under the changes, which reduce the 18 weeks of leave paid for by the government, if a new parent's employer offers paid leave.