Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate the Transport Workers Union and Virgin Australia for their leadership in creating a workplace environment that supports employees experiencing family violence. Under a recent workplace agreement negotiated between the parties, Virgin employees will be entitled to five days working leave, leave for medical and legal appointments, and workplace flexibility if they require temporary changes to working hours and rosters. This agreement will allow employees to change their telephone numbers and email, giving women more protection from being followed and stalked at work by abusive ex-partners.

For women experiencing family violence, workplace support is crucial. It gives women the confidence to escape abusive relationships without having to worry about the impact that it may have on their jobs. I would like to commend the TWU for their efforts in fighting for the rights of all workers, including our workers placed in the most vulnerable of situations, and Virgin Australia for its enlightened approach to this issue.

I also want to acknowledge the broader campaign by the Australian Council of Trade Unions to guarantee these sorts of protections for all working Australians. Led by Ged Kearney, the ACTU is using all avenues to work with employers in all sectors of the economy to ensure that employees experiencing family violence receive the workplace security that they deserve.

I commend these moves by both our unions and corporate Australia to tackle an issue that cuts across the ideological divides. We will not truly address the challenge of family violence in our community, and this invidious practice within our community, unless we address it in all aspects of our society.

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