{"id":6987,"date":"2020-12-07T21:35:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T21:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.broadagenda.com.au\/?p=8377"},"modified":"2020-12-07T21:35:56","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T21:35:56","slug":"is-it-time-for-universal-paid-domestic-violence-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/07\/is-it-time-for-universal-paid-domestic-violence-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it time for universal paid domestic violence leave?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Women experiencing domestic violence are often told to \u201cjust leave\u201d. But \u201cjust leaving\u201d is never simple; it is fraught with danger, complex logistics, and psychological trauma. More often than not it affects the victim\u2019s employment, with research finding up to 60% of survivors<\/a> report losing their job.<\/p>\n On Monday afternoon, Federal Labor Senator Jenny McAllister introduced a private members\u2019 bill into the Senate that would allow women to access 10 days of paid domestic violence leave a year. Labor’s Linda Burney will introduce the bill into the lower house on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Around one third of companies, including Medicare, CUB, Telstra, NAB, Virgin Australia, IKEA and Qantas, already provide paid domestic violence leave. A number of state governments and local councils<\/a> also provide paid domestic leave.<\/p>\n Ms McAllister told BroadAgenda that making 10 days leave universal would have far-reaching social and economic consequences.<\/p>\n Making paid domestic violence leave universal means that its one less thing that a woman needs to negotiate and advocate for at a time when she\u2019s already having to negotiate and advocate for her and her children\u2019s personal safety.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cMaking paid domestic violence leave universal means that its one less thing that a woman needs to negotiate and advocate for at a time when she\u2019s already having to negotiate and advocate for her and her children\u2019s personal safety,\u201d Ms McAllister said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy hope is that with the introduction of paid domestic violence leave we can make workplaces safer and more secure for workers experiencing domestic abuse. Employment allows women to maintain their social connections, financial independence and provides a pathway for rebuilding their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n