The coalition wants to provide 26 weeks’ parental leave, to be paid at the woman’s wage, capped at $75,000.

While the scheme is more generous than Labor’s scheme, the component that provides two weeks’ leave for dads stipulates that if fathers want to take more leave, it must be paid at the mother’s wage.

The coalition would pay for the scheme by an increase in company tax, prompting Labor to warn that the measure would push up supermarket prices.

Liberal candidate for Bendigo Craig Hunter said the coalition’s Paid Parental Leave Plan was about easing cost of living pressures on families by replacing mothers’ income at a time of acute need.

“The scheme is funded through a 1.7 per cent emporary levy on businesses with taxable income of $5 million,” he said. “The levy will be removed as soon as Labor’s debt is repaid.”

Mr Hunter had the support of Family First candidate Alan Howard, but he said any parental leave needed to be fiscally responsible.

“I think it’s an idea that was put forward early by Mr Abbott and a lot might feel that it was a knee-jerk policy,” he said.

“But I think the impact that it will have on groceries will be about 20 cents in every $100.”

Mr Gibbons said the company tax hike would increase costs for businesses, which would pass the costs on to consumers.

“Now we have reports revealing that working Aust-

ralians would be slugged with higher prices on essential household costs, including groceries and electricity, under Mr Abbott’s Coles and Woolies tax.

“This tax will hit every shelf in every aisle of your supermarket.’’

Greens candidate Kym-

berlie Dimozantos said the Greens would also offer six months’ paid parental leave, but was unable to explain how it would be funded.

“It is difficult to know how the funding will be applied when we don’t have access to Treasury,” she said.

“If elected, we would re-

prioritise funding,” Ms Dimozantos said.