Domestiv Violence clause unveiled

Date: 16 April 2010

Yesterday, the PSA/CPSU unveiled a model domestic violence clause which can added to awards and agreements.

The clause was developed by the PSA/CPSU and the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse.

The University of New South Wales will be the first employer on which it is served.

Click here to get a copy of the model clause.

Speakers at the yesterday's launch included Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for the Status of Women; Elizabeth Broderick, federal sex Discrimination Commissioner; Ged Kearney, the President-elect of the ACTU; Steve Turner, PSA Assistant General Secretary; and Maria Cirillo, PSA Senior Industrial Officer.

The clause essentially recognises that the domestic violence has serious impacts on the victims' work and on the workplace generally, so it is an issue which employers and unions can address.

Tanya Plibersek said the "cost of violence is enormous", and she quotes one estimate of $13.6 billion per year.

"At the enterprise level, negotiations such as the CPSU is proposing here at the University of New South Wales, would allow employers and employees to determine the most supportive and flexible provisions to protect employees experiencing domestic violence while supporting them to stay at work.

"This is a really exciting proposal - and if approved, will be the first of its kind in Australia."

She congratulated the CPSU for leading such an innovative campaign and the University for engaging in the negotiations.

She added further government support to the negotiations when she said, "Women should not have to suffer the consequences of losing their connection with the workplace - either because they have been a victim of violence or because they have chosen to take action to stop it.

"By remaining connected to the workplace - a woman has a much better chance of retaining her independence after a perpetrator has been removed from the family home."

Read Tanya Plibersek's full speech,

and PSA Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner's media release

For further information

Contact:	Les Carr, SCO
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Phone:	9220 0939
Email:	lcarr@psa.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.psa.labor.net.au/

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