Mrs Beckworth, and her husband Jonathon, saved up before their daughter, Andie, was born 18 months ago to allow the new mum to take unpaid maternity leave.

The 27-year-old had 12 months at home with her daughter and is now back at work part-time as a childcare worker.

Mrs Beckworth said federal opposition leader Tony Abbott’s plan to introduce six months’ paid parental leave would make it easier for families.

“We had to save to be able to have time off with Andie,” she said.

“If we hadn’t saved that money, I would have gone back to work straight away.”

Mr Abbott this week outlined the Coalition’s plans, if elected to government, for paid parental leave for six months at people’s real salaries up to $150,000.

The scheme would be funded by a levy on larger businesses.

“The difference between our scheme and Labor’s Mickey Mouse scheme is that mothers get real time and real money and that’s why I was so keen to further develop our thinking on International Women’s Day,” Mr Abbott said.

The Rudd’s government’s paid parental leave scheme kicks in on January 1 next year.

The scheme will provide 18 weeks’ leave paid at the federal minimum wage.

About 148,000 mothers and primary carers will be eligible for the Rudd government’s scheme each year.

The federal government says its scheme will enable more parents to care for their baby full-time during the vital early months of health, cognitive and emotional development.