Australian Organ Donors to Receive Financial Support

Will be paid for time off work

AUSTRALIA will never adopt a cash-for-organs scheme, but will follow other countries in paying donors who take leave from work, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says.

Workers who want to donate a kidney will be offered up to six weeks' paid leave at minimum wage, up to $3600, under a federal government plan to reduce the waiting list for life-saving organs.

Ms Plibersek said the government would put up a "relatively modest contribution" of $1.3 million from the federal health budget for a two-year trial that will be reviewed in 2015.