Labor states introduce paid domestic violence leave
Two state Labor governments have recently introduced paid domestic violence leave for their employees, with Queensland and South Australia announcing the policies to coincide with White Ribbon Day.
The moves follow the decision by the Victorian government earlier this year to have a domestic violence leave entitlement built into all future Victorian public sector enterprise agreements.
The Queensland government will now provide 10 days paid leave for its employees affected by domestic violence who will also be able to access flexible working arrangements.
Announcing the policy at a White Ribbon Day breakfast, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that it was “incredible” that such events still needed to be held to raise public awareness of the issue.
“Who would have believed that in 2015, in a modern, vibrant, accepting country, we would still need to hold events where we address something so sinister as domestic and family violence," she said.
On the same day, the South Australian government announced that its employees would be entitled to 15 days of paid domestic violence leave a year.
The Government said the additional leave was aimed at ensuring victims could maintain employment while they “take action to break the cycle of violence”.
Since the start of the year, 78 women have been killed in family and domestic violence across Australia.
