[Greens-Media] Media release: Paid domestic violence leave overdue

[Vandeleur, Monique (Sen L. Waters)]

Senator Larissa Waters
Senator for Queensland

Media release

Monday, 25 November 2013

Paid domestic violence leave overdue

The Australian Greens congratulate the ACTU for calling for paid domestic violence leave on White Ribbon Day today.

"It's a national tragedy that one women is killed every week in Australia by a current or former partner and that one in three Australian women over the age of 15 reports having experienced physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for Women, said.

"These are appalling statistics and must be addressed urgently.

"One practical way to help victims of domestic violence is to provide flexible working arrangements.

"In the last Parliament the Greens moved to amend the Fair Work Bill to provide flexible working arrangements for victims of domestic violence, unfortunately without the support of the old parties.

"We congratulate the ACTU on taking this necessary stand on White Ribbon Day and hope it will propel the federal Parliament to take the lead on including domestic violence leave as a minimum working entitlement," Senator Waters said.

Contact - Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725