Greens pledge portable long service scheme for more workers

The Greens have pledged to push for a portable long-service leave scheme for workers care, cleaning and security sectors, no matter who forms government after Saturday’s election. How it works.

Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley and MP Helen Burnet speak to the media in North Hobart on Tuesday, July 7, 2025.

The Greens have pledged to push for a portable long-service leave scheme for workers in the disability and community services, aged care, contract cleaning and security sectors no matter who forms government after Saturday’s election.

Greens spokeswoman Helen Burnet said the scheme would be a big boon for workers in those industries.

“The way the rules for long service leave work at the moment means that if someone

is working in a job, but the contractor or provider changes, they lose all the hard-

earned progress they’ve made towards long service leave,” she said.

Cleaners generic picture.

“Someone could have worked in a job for eight or nine years even, and be so close to having a much-needed break, only to lose that opportunity.

“The idea of a portable long service leave scheme is that when there’s a job change

for employees in these industries — which often happens without them having a

choice — they keep their long service leave credits and continue to progress towards

getting the break they deserve.

“The fact that workers who may move from employer to employer because of their

industry structure cannot access long service leave entitlements is incredibly unfair.

Tasmania already has portable long service leave in the construction sector.”

Ms Burnet said she was confident of gaining the support of Labor and the Liberals in the next parliament for the policy.

Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley and MP Helen Burnet speak to the media in North Hobart on Tuesday, July 7, 2025.

The Greens also on Friday released a policy calling for the expansion of World Heritage recognition for Takayna/Tarkine, the Spero-Wanderer Wilderness, the West Coast Range including the Tyndalls, the Vale River Catchment, Granite Tor Conservation Area and Recherche Bay.

“The Greens will scrap the flailing Liberal policy to privatise our national parks,” she said.

“We will tear up the lease over Halls Island and see that Lake Malbena is returned to all Tasmanians,” she said.

“We will invest in the neglected walking track network, as well as landscape restoration to ameliorate the degradation caused by invasive species.”

The Greens have also announced their support for Mental Health Emergency Response service around the clock every day of the week statewide.

Bass MP Cecily Rosol said a little money would go a long way to improving outcomes for those in need.

Disability support worker generic.

It’s been obvious to us that making the Mental Health Emergency Response teams 24/7 is a common sense step to build on the success they’ve had so far, and to continue to improve the care available to the community,” she said.

“Spending $2.75m each year is a such a small investment when you consider the benefits to people in need, and to the wider health system.”

Originally published as Greens pledge portable long service scheme for more workers