Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

There are a few questions in there, Senator Cash, but I'll do my best to answer them. If I've understood your questions correctly, they relate to the amendment the government has moved around pay slips. This amendment makes technical changes to the Fair Work Act which provide legislative support to amend the Fair Work Regulations to prevent the listing of family and domestic violence leave on an employee's pay slip. This amendment arises from issues that were raised in the consultation process.

Why this matters is that, for those in a situation of coercive control or where a perpetrator has access to a victim's financial records, the appearance of 'family and domestic violence leave' on a pay slip could put the employee taking leave at significant risk. Currently, the Fair Work Act does not allow items to be prohibited from appearing on a pay slip. It only prescribes what must be included. So this amendment is needed to ensure that a prohibition on showing an employee's family and domestic violence leave balance on a pay slip can be added to the Fair Work Regulations.

You raised a point about consultation. As part of consultation on the bill, the government consulted with payroll providers and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, COSBOA, who raised this issue as a concern. Submissions to the Senate inquiry, such as that from the National Women's Safety Alliance, also flagged pay slips as a point of concern. I acknowledge that this has been a particular issue of interest to Senator Lambie. That is what has led to us making this amendment. I hope I have at least mostly answered your questions.