Townsville Bulletin

DV leave approved in ruling

- HOLLY HALES

MILLIONS of Australian­s will soon be able to access up to 10 days’ paid domestic violence leave after a historic Fair Work ruling.

The decision is set to impact more than 2.6 million workers employed under modern awards who will be able to access the full package each year at their base rate of pay.

Other workers, not covered by the award, are entitled to five days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave.

The Fair Work Commission said domestic and family violence was a “gendered phenomenon” that had worsened throughout the pandemic.

“Family and domestic violence is a ubiquitous and persistent social problem. While men can, and do, experience FDV, such violence disproport­ionately affects women,” the decision read.

“We have concluded that the merits strongly favour a paid FDV leave entitlemen­t.”

Domestic and family violence costs Australian employers $2bn annually, the commission revealed.

One in six women and one in 16 men in Australia, have experience­d violence by an intimate partner.

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