Labor's Julia Gillard offers male voters a tempting forthnight-long paid leave. The incentive, though, comes with a catch. One has to be the father of a new born.

Gillard also announced that the two week leave will also cover working couples. The benefits will be an addition to the 18-week paid parental leave scheme for mothers which will be enforced on January 1. The forthnight benefit is about $570 a week and will be available on July 1, 2012.

An estimate of 220,000 fathers and partners would benefit from the incentives. Gillard argued that most working fathers need some time off from work when their partner gives birth. She said, “The payment will provide support to fathers and other partners who normally have to take unpaid leave at the time of the child to be at home with the new baby.”

The forthnight paid leave will be available to fathers and partners who have worked at least one day a week for 10 months in the year prior to the baby's birth. Those earning over $150,000 a year are not eligible for the payment.

The proposed measure will cost $146 million.