Crowded on the Parliament lawns in the freezing Canberra air, women’s safety advocates gathered for a vigil to remember women who have been killed in acts of family and domestic violence and those still trapped at his house
They were also there to mark the prospect of a new legal right that could support women to escape violent relationships, which have been developing for more than a decade.
The federal government has introduced legislation to parliament that would give about 11 million workers, including casual workers, access to 10 days of paid domestic violence leave.
Addressing the crowd, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michelle O’Neil said the new law would remove the “poor choice” many women face between going to work or trying to escape.
“Today is about winning a new right,” he said.
“It’s not something that started yesterday, this is a decade of struggle, a decade of job-by-job campaigns.”
Michelle O’Neil says a bill to enshrine paid domestic violence leave into law was the culmination of a decade of effort. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
The mood among the group was very different from what was seen at the same venue a year earlier, when thousands of mostly women marched on Capital Hill demanding justice and equality.
There was one obvious addition to those in attendance: the Prime Minister.
Anthony Albanese addressed the vigil and paid tribute to the women and trade union movements who have campaigned strongly for change for many years.
“With this measure today we will take a small step forward, we hope it will pass through Parliament with the support of the whole Parliament,” he said.
“One of the things I know is that change doesn’t just happen from the top, from people sitting around a caucus room or people who have the honor of being parliamentarians.
“It happens so often from the bottom up, because of this sense of urgency that comes from people saying ‘enough is enough’.”
A crowd gathered on the parliament lawn to remember women who have lost their lives to violence and those still trapped in their own homes. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Albanese described domestic and family violence as a “stain on our national soul” and promised his government would “do better”.
He compared the event to a final ceremony later in the week at the Australian War Memorial and compared the pain and trauma caused by domestic violence to that sustained during war.
“The fact is that not all feelings of grief arise from a declared war, but from a conflict that takes place around us every day,” he said.
“Every day this happens, insidiously, silently and relentlessly.
“Every death here is so avoidable, so avoidable, every death here is a tragedy.”
If approved by parliament, the changes will come into effect for large organizations in February next year, while smaller businesses will have an extra six months to prepare.
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash has indicated the opposition is “inclined” to support the change, but has said she prefers the model proposed by the Fair Work Commission.
Earlier this year, the FWC ruled in favor of varying awards covering about 2.3 million workers to include 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, but rejected a push by the ‘ACTU to extend the right to temporary workers.
The government’s proposed legislation will enshrine paid leave as a minimum employment standard for an additional 8.4 million workers.
When introducing the bill to the House of Representatives, Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke said women who have experienced domestic violence tend to have a more disturbed work history and are more likely to work casual jobs.
“Family and domestic violence does not discriminate based on whether you are a permanent or casual worker,” he said.
“Family and domestic violence devastates the lives and livelihoods of those who directly experience it, and its damaging impacts ripple through our communities, workplaces and national economy.”
She said the change would make it a little easier to leave a violent relationship and would support women to attend court, make appointments and re-enroll their children in a new school.
“It’s still going to be tough, but getting out of it will be less likely to make you unemployed or poor,” he said.
“This bill sends a clear message that family and domestic violence is not just a criminal or social justice issue, but an economic and employment issue.”