THE government’s plan to stamp out so-called “double dipping” of parental leave entitlements has been shelved, with Social Services Minister Christian Porter conceding the legislation won’t pass during this term of Parliament.

The legislation which would stop pregnant women claiming paid parental leave from both the government and their employer was due to come into effect on July 1.

But Mr Porter today admitted the Turnbull Government had abandoned hope of getting the legislation passed.

“The reality is that the legislative change that we wish to make to that arrangement is not going to be successful in this term of Parliament,” he told the ABC.

“I think that much is absolutely clear to me and to the members of the Government.

“So people who are pregnant or planning to become, the status quo is clearly going to be maintained for a period of time.”

Currently, new parents are entitled to 18 weeks of paid parental leave (PPL) at the minimum wage, which works out as $11,826 per household, regardless of any entitlement to employer-based paid parental leave.

Last year, it was famously branded “double dipping” by then-Treasurer Joe Hockey.

Mr Porter said he was uncomfortable with the term “double dipping” and had never viewed it that way.

He stressed the government remained committed to reforming the scheme.

“However that does not mean that this government at the moment is not trying to change (the current scheme) or if it were re-elected wouldn’t also be looking at ways in which to modify the existing system along the lines that we have suggested because there is a real equity issue here,” he said.

“It is a generous system to people who are at the lower end of the income earning spectrum, as it should be.

“But the additional problem that arises is for the top 20 per cent or so of higher income earners it is inequitably generous because you can have the 18 weeks at minimum wage but also be able to access your own, which is often very generous, employer-based PPL.”

When the Abbott Government announced the changes it was expected about 80,000 mothers were “double dipping”, and tightening up eligibility requirements would save taxpayers $1 billion over four years.