An “overdue” change to allow victims of domestic and family violence to get access to paid leave will save lives, Anthony Albanese has said.
From Wednesday, workers will have access to up to 10 days paid leave at the full rate of pay regardless of whether they are full time, part-time or casual employees.
Previously, victim-survivors were only entitled to five days of unpaid leave in relation to domestic and family violence.
“This change will save lives,” the Prime Minister said, echoing the words of frontline support workers at Parliament House on Tuesday.
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READ NOW“Let us hope that in putting in place this measure it is used less and less in the future, as we go on.
“Part of tackling domestic violence of course is bringing it out into the open, talking about it.”
But he said tackling domestic violence could not be left to just governments and it required a “whole of society response”.
The changes kick in from February 1 for at least seven million employees in large and medium businesses across the country.
Meanwhile, employees at small businesses will be able to access the scheme from August 1 to give those employers time to adjust to the changes.
Small businesses will also have access to $3.4 million over four years to support their adjustment to the scheme.
The legislation also includes measures that prevent any mention of family and domestic violence leave on a pay slip.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the move was as an “extra layer of support” for women and children experiencing violence.
“For a long time we’ve assumed family and domestic violence is something that just affects someone’s home life and is something that happens outside of the workplace. But we know it has a huge interface with work,” Ms Rishworth said.
“Employers have an increasingly important role here. The connection with work, the payment of wages, is really important in keeping stability in the lives of those experiencing violence when they are attempting to leave a domestic violence situation.”
Domestic Violence helplines