18 weeks at minimum wage is inadequate. 26 weeks at replacement wage is a good start. I think paternal leave “use it or lose it” is missing from the equation as well. It’s much better to have 2 parents caring for a newborn in the first few months than 1.

If the government are trying to encourage people to have children the massive elephant in the room is the cost of housing though.

Forget the activity test - get rid of means testing, too. Why are women who have worked hard to establish a career being penalized by returning to the workforce?

Child care is a necessity, not a luxury. It should be funded, like health care.

If we want this, we need to fight for it. Like the 8 hour work day, this will never be something the employers want. Though my employer does in fact offer some pretty nice maternity policies above the government minimum. Not a year or course, but appreciated all the same.