Victorian Greens want paid leave for menopause, endometriosis treatment, vasectomy and gender transitioning

Public sector workers with menopause symptoms and men getting vasectomies would be among those to get more paid leave under a Greens’ plan.

Public sector workers in Victoria would be given five days of reproductive health and well-being leave under a “ground-breaking” proposal from the Greens.

The scheme would grant additional leave to employees who access reproductive health services such as miscarriages, terminations, hysterectomies and vasectomies, as well as for people doing IVF.

The added days of leave will also apply to women experiencing menopause symptoms or undergoing endometriosis treatments.

And it will cover people having social and medical gender transitioning therapies, including sex and gender hormone therapy and reassignment surgery.

According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the scheme would cost just over $34m over the forward estimates.

Greens MP Samantha Ratnam says for too many women and gender diverse people, discrimination in the workplace is commonplace. Picture: Paul Jeffers

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam blamed a 1.5 per cent wage cap earlier this year — imposed by the state government — as cutting the wages of public sector workers.

The workers hit hardest by these cuts were the lowest paid workers, who are predominantly women, Ms Ratnam said.

She said recognising reproductive leave would help keep women in the workforce and address the gender pay gap.

“For too many women and gender diverse people, discrimination in the workplace is commonplace,” Ms Ratnam said.

“They are discriminated against with lower wages and workplaces not suited to their needs. They also struggle to get their healthcare needs met.

“For many women and gender diverse people, reproductive issues can significantly impact their working lives, forcing them to take paid and even unpaid leave to manage a range of issues. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

“Recognising reproductive leave will help keep women in the workforce, and address the gender pay gap.”

Victorian Greens health spokesman said all Victorians should be able to access safe and affordable healthcare without it impacting their income.

“Yet for many in the community – particularly women and gender diverse people – this sadly isn’t the case,” he said.

“The plan we’re launching recognises the importance of reproductive health services and getting reproductive health conditions treated, and ensures workers will be able to access them more easily.”

Greens bike super highway

A 21km “bike superhighway” from Elsternwick to Coburg is being proposed as part of a radical vision to create an extensive new network of cycling routes.

The Victorian Greens will on Wednesday launch its $2.5bn “Big Bike Build”, in which hundreds of kilometres of separated bike superhighways would be installed across Melbourne and regional cities.

Such a move – first floated by the RACV and since endorsed by Infrastructure Australia – would separate bicycles from cars on congested roads.

The drastic plan would include purpose-built lanes to connect riders between Glen Huntly Rd in Elsternwick and Bell St in Coburg.

The proposed route would take cyclists along St Kilda Rd, Swanston St, College Crescent, Flemington Rd, Royal Parade and Sydney Rd, and connect already existing bike lanes.

Victorian Greens transport spokesman Sam Hibbins said the big bike build would extend out of the CBD, with plans in place for hundreds of kilometres of bike highways to be rolled out across the state.

Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong have all been flagged as potential locations for future projects, as well as lanes in outer Melbourne suburbs.

“There is a lot of people who want to ride, who have bought a bike and would like to ride a bike but just don’t feel safe to,” Mr Hibbins said.

“Separated bike lanes make riding safer for everyone – young people, older people and families too.

The plan would separate bicycles from cars on congested roads.

“A big bike build and increased funding for footpaths, pedestrian crossings and walkable neighbourhoods will cut emissions, improve safety and make it easier for people to get around.”

Mr Hibbins acknowledged the mammoth project would “no doubt” cause big changes and disruptions to the layout of existing roads.

But he said Victoria needed to look to international destinations, like London, Paris and Milan, for inspiration.

“Here in Victoria, we spend about one per cent of our transport infrastructure budget on bike riding and walking, so we’d like to see that increased significantly to about 10 to 20 per cent,” he said.

“The Andrews government needs to be pushed further and faster by the Greens. We’ve seen a real lack of investment in active transport despite their Big Build.”

As part of the power sharing government in Ireland, the Greens have increased active transport funding to 20 per cent, while in Scotland they have increased it to 10 per cent.

Part of the Greens’ package would also be directed towards creating more safe pedestrian crossings, upgraded footpaths and walkable neighbourhoods.