Planned cuts to paid parental leave abandoned

of payments targeted by former Treasurer Joe Hockey.

It will mean 72,000 parents who were due to face a slashing of payments will now receive their full 18-weeks pay from the Commonwealth, along with any employer provided schemes.

A further 7000 parents due to have their entire government payment slashed now proceed as normal.

The relief is part of a suite of so-called unlegislated “zombie measures” deemed too difficult to pass through parliament.

In total 18 measures were dropped, including the Paid Parental Leave reform.

Others include an increasing will in the age eligibility for Newstart payments and an increase in the co-payment and safety net thresholds under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The concession of “zombie measures” will add $17.3 billion in expenditure to the budget bottom line, $2.2 billion of which are due to parental leave payments through 2020-21.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said he had to deal with the circumstances the senate presented him with.

“I’ve got to deal with the circumstances in front of me,” Mr Morrison said. “Just as Joe Hockey did before me and just as Peter Costello did.” to