Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

What an honour it is to participate in this debate. When we gathered in July to mark the introduction of the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 over in the other place, there were a lot of tears. It showed, I think, how much this bill means to so many people. There were a lot of tears here earlier this morning as well when my colleague and friend Senator Green made her powerful, moving, personal contribution, where she spoke about the impact of violence on children who witness it and experience it and about the significance of the measures that we will put in place through passing this legislation to support people in exactly that situation.

Over the past three years, I had the real honour of visiting many dozens of refuges and services as shadow assistant minister for communities and the prevention of family violence. From Broome to Burnie, I was able to hear directly from survivors, advocates and frontline workers. What they told me was this. Many working women resign or are terminated from their employment because they need to take time to deal with issues that arise as a consequence of domestic abuse: finding housing, attending court, attending doctors' appointments and ensuring their children have the support that they need. The truth is that leaving violence takes time. It's expensive and, actually, it's often very, very dangerous. Leaving is the time when a woman is most at risk, and the situation puts women fleeing violence in a precarious position. Many face the unacceptable choice—and it is unacceptable—between fleeing to safety or staying in a job. No-one should be forced to make that decision.

That's why, from opposition, I introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Ten Days Paid Domestic and Family Violence Leave) Bill 2020 into this chamber. Those opposite opposed it then, and we wait to see how they will handle this legislation, but I am honoured to speak this afternoon in this debate. This bill will amend the Fair Work Act. It will improve the existing entitlement in the National Employment Standards from five days of unpaid leave to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. It's an entitlement that will be available to a person who is experiencing family and domestic violence. I note Senator O'Sullivan's question in this regard, and I want to make this very clear: the entitlement does not provide a benefit—