Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I rise to speak very briefly on the amendments before the chamber, amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1382, which would give workers 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. This has been a longstanding Greens policy, and we fully support these amendments. We had a similar amendment drafted ourselves but, as I referenced earlier today, we have come to an arrangement about who moves what to try to make sure that the chamber is progressing smoothly. I just want to place on record that we think this is eminently sensible and, while it goes beyond the recommendations of the Respect@Work report, so too do the miscarriage leave provisions in the bill, which we also support. The point is that, if you are opening up the possibility of unrelated amendments, we think this amendment should also be moved.

I sat on the committee inquiry into the government's bill regarding five days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave, and the evidence was abundantly clear that workers need paid leave, that five days of unpaid leave is as good as nothing and that, in fact, it costs employers to have the relationship with their employee severed unnecessarily. So in fact it is a saving to business. So you'd think that the government would get right behind it. Most importantly, it is the right thing to do—and many employers, of course, want to do the right thing by their employees. So, to cut a long story short, we strongly support these amendments, and we urge the government to finally put its money where its mouth is and back the call for 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave for all workers.

The CHAIR: The question is that amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1382, as moved by Senator McAllister, be agreed to.