Work rights for violence victims
Image: City of Sydney Labor Councillor Linda Scott has been a strong advocate
The City of Sydney has called upon the Local Government NSW to adopt a stronger position on providing paid leave and flexible work arrangements for victims of domestic violence.
The entitlements are already in place at the City and some other councils around the state. But Labor councillor Linda Scott said more needed to be done to ensure they were available everywhere.
“City of Sydney should be providing strong leadership on the issue of domestic violence,” she said. “We should be out front talking about the importance of paid leave and flexible work arrangements.”
The idea was originally put on the agenda of the LGNSW conference in October by Leichhardt Council. But the conference was declared inquorate before the motion could be debated.
“Sadly there were not enough people to make up quorum so there was no debate…and there was no ability for the conference to continue,” Ms Scott said.
She said it didn’t matter whether the request to check quorum was intentional or accidental.
“Both those reasons are offensive to the thousands of women who experience violence at home.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore will write to LGNSW and urge support for Leichhardt Council’s original motion. A copy of the City’s “Dealing with Domestic Violence at Work” policy will also be provided.
Around Australia, at least one woman is killed each week by a current or former partner.
Ms Scott said the problem knows no regional or socio-economic boundaries.
“It doesn’t conform to any patterns.”
