Labor’s domestic violence leave pledge slammed

LABOR has pledged to introduce a new policy to tackle domestic violence, but business leaders say it would destroy small business.

Marriage Equality activists Dr Kerryn Phelps speaking at a rally a day before the bill is to be introduced in parliament.

FORMER AMA president Dr Kerryn Phelps has slammed Labor’s promise to introduce paid leave for family violence victims saying it would “destroy small business”.

The high profile Sydney GP has had significant professional experience dealing with domestic violence, as well as the workings of business. She says forcing responsibility for dealing with family violence onto employers is “the wrong way to go about it”.

“I think that addressing family violence is a massive priority for the victims and the children and that needs to be a high priority for government,” she told news.com.au.

“It should not be foisted on small business as an impost because it is not in the best interest of families to put further pressure on small business.”

Dr Phelps said it was unfair for a future government to have employers “shoulder another burden”, and warned such a policy could be abused.

“In my experience there are certain employees that will take advantage of every single entitlement, including leave days and everything else,” she said.

“You also don’t want to disadvantage people who are genuinely in need. It’s a difficult issue for people to speak up about because there is that mistaken perception that you don’t take domestic violence as a serious issue. It is a serious issue but so is the survival of small business.”

Australian of the Year and domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty has backed union calls for 10 days extra leave for victims of family violence to allow for court appearances, relocating, and other issues associated with protecting themselves.

Businesses like Telstra and Virgin Australia have already agreed to offer an extra two weeks leave to domestic violence victims.

“F***ing fix it” ... Joe McDonald from the CFMEU spoke passionately at the ALP conference. Pic: Mark Stewart

The weekend’s ALP conference saw the party pass a motion on family violence sufferers rights to leave entitlements, along with a raft of changes to workers’ rights, cementing the party’s stance “against family violence” that it will carry to the next election.

An expletive-laden speech from CFMEU West Australian assistant state secretary Joe McDonald threw the issue into the spotlight on Sunday.

“Paid leave is only a start,” he told the conference.

“Somewhere on the street where you live there is a war in the kitchen for somebody ... F***ing stop it, f***ing fix it, do something about it.”

But business leaders say extra leave is the wrong way to do it.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Kate Carnell has previously criticised the proposal, warning it could “impact upon workplaces’ interest in employing women”.

Dr Phelps said it was important for government, and any future governments to take the issue seriously, and act appropriately.

“(The Abbott government) say they’re taking it seriously, but I think we have yet to see real action,” she said.

“What we need is a serious approach by a task force that includes representatives from medical professionals, drug and alcohol groups, and businesses and government with a proper plan and proper solution.

“The root cause of drug and alcohol problems and dealing with the perpetrators must be a high priority for government.”