Assembly Backs Berry's Bill To Safeguard Employees

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Industrial Relations

Media Statement - 6 September 2000

Labor Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Wayne Berry's bill to safeguard the rights and privacy of employees who take out restraining orders because of incidents at work was passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly today.

Mr Berry said, "I issued drafting instructions for this bill after I was approached by the Australian Education Union. The AEU highlighted the problems which arise for teachers in our government schools who find themselves in the situation where they need to apply for a restraining order.

"Teachers are apprehensive about disclosing their details when applying for an order because they are likely to continue teaching a relation of the person who is the subject of the order. Also, they have concerns that disclosing their home address when they apply for the order may lead to them or their families becoming a potential target for the subject of the order.

"In considering the implications of the provision for teachers I became aware that there are other employees who could become an 'aggrieved person' because of their work. For this reason I have ensured my amendments cover all employees.

There is also a safeguard so that the Magistrates Court can be satisfied that the application is taken out with the aggrieved person's consent.

"This is a reasonable, practical solution to a problem which exists in the community and I am happy the bill was supported by the Assembly," Mr Berry concluded.