Julia Perry, a former senior federal public servant, will present her proposal on Tuesday to a Productivity Commission inquiry into paid maternity leave.

The $3.5 billion scheme would be funded by the commonwealth, employers and employees and allow new mothers to take six months' leave at full pay.

Under the scheme, taxpayers would fork out 0.5 per cent of their gross annual salary.

For a worker earning about $50,000 a year, that would amount to $5.70 a week.

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