A paid parental leave system is a step closer to reality with the federal government's legislation passing the lower house after lengthy debate.
The scheme will provide 18 weeks' leave for either parent, to be funded by the government at the minimum wage rate of $543 a week.
But it will not include measures put forward by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, after the government used its numbers to defeat a range of amendments.
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'Landmark reform'
Mr Abbott has flagged his own scheme, under which women would receive up to $75,000 for 26 weeks, depending on their actual wage, with a wage ceiling of up to $150,000.
Families Minister Jenny Macklin said the legislation was a "landmark economic and social reform for Australian families and for Australian businesses".
The government-funded leave scheme is set to come into force from the beginning of next year, but must first be approved by the Senate.
Scheme 'strikes the right balance'
Ms Macklin said the scheme had struck the right balance, adding that it was fair to business and families.
"It's practical, fully costed and will be fully funded out of consolidated revenue, not by imposing a new tax on Australian business like the new tax proposed by the opposition," Ms Macklin said.
Debate lasted well into the evening.
Queensland MP Bob Katter said a generation of women was left to grow "old, embittered and lonely" because Australia did not have a paid parental leave system.
Mr Katter told parliament he was part of the first generation in which women began to choose careers instead of having children.
"I know them all. They are the same age that I am ... mid 60s or early 60s, and they pursued their career, and now they are old, embittered, lonely people," the independent MP said.
"They have no one to love and no one to love them."
Smarter children argument
Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey said high-earning women should be encouraged to have kids because their children were more likely to be smart.
"And to ensure that those who can attract the higher wage levels and (because of) whose genetic structure, if you like - I'll probably get criticised for this remark - whose children are more likely to be brighter," Mr Tuckey said.
Australia is one of two OECD countries without a paid parental scheme.
Ms Macklin said Australia would catch up with the rest of the developed world, once the legislation passed the parliament.
