Support petition to extend paid family and domestic leave to all Australian workers

Family and domestic violence is a national crisis - and those seeking to flee it need support to escape often perilous situations.

Australia Unions have relaunched their petition campaigning for ten days of family and domestic leave to be extended to all Australian workers.

In July, the Federal Government introduced a Bill into Parliament that would cover an additional 8.44 million workers, by enshrining the leave into the National Employment Standards.

This Bill is now being debated and should be before the Senate this month. We must ensure all members of Parliament support the bill.

The Coalition and One Nation opposed such proposals for the past decade.

The Australian Union petition states: “the tragic numbers are well known: on average a woman is killed each week by a partner, ex-partner or family member in Australia”. 

“Hundreds of thousands report facing violence at home – figures that have surged during the pandemic, as many women were trapped further into abusive relationships. The true picture is likely to be even worse.

“It’s an unacceptable situation that requires urgent action.”

At the time of publication, the over 20,000 people had signed the petition.

Australian Unions has reintroduced its petition calling for a “minimum of ten days of paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave to be implemented in all workplaces to help women escape violent situations”. 

“The Federal Government must act to give every worker access to paid family and domestic violence leave.”

Australian Unions campaign to ensure vital leave is extended to all Australian workers.

Why is this important?

Workplaces play a key role in supporting a woman facing family and domestic violence. 

Paid family and domestic violence leave can give a woman – and it nearly always is a woman – the time, support and job security she needs to escape and recover from an abusive relationship. 

One in three employers now offer this leave. All State and Territory Governments do as well. But two out of three employees are still missing out. A woman's safety shouldn't depend on her employer. 

It takes paid leave to leave - it costs $18,000 on average to escape a violent relationship in Australia and economic security is a key factor determining whether a person subjected to family or domestic violence can escape from a dangerous situation.

Family and domestic violence means violent, threatening, or other abusive behaviour by an employee’s close relative that:

• seeks to coerce or control the employee

• causes them harm or fear.

A close relative is an employee's:

• spouse or former spouse

•  de facto partner or former de facto partner

•  child

• parent

• grandparent

•  grandchild

• sibling

• an employee's current or former spouse or de facto partner's child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, or

• a person related to the employee according to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kinship rules. 

In May, the Fair Work Commission made an in-principle decision that 2.66 million workers covered by modern awards should have access to 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave. 

The ACTU hailed it as “an historic step forward for workers’ rights in Australia”. 

“For over a decade unions campaigned for 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave in the NES so that no worker would miss out,” said. ACTU President Michelle O’Neill. 

“We were met with constant opposition by the former Coalition Government, but we never gave up.” 

She celebrated the introduction of the paid FDV leave Bill into parliament, but also said the struggle continued.

It is now time for Parliament to deliver this essential right.

- - -

If you are in immediate danger, call 000 for Police and Ambulance help.

If you need advice, support and information, you can call:

1800RESPECT / 1800 737 732
This is a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

For White Ribbon’s comprehensive help listings, click here.