In a disgraceful decision night Dave Rugendyke and the Liberals denied an improvement for parental leave for private sector casual workers not covered in awards and in award free areas, Labor Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Wayne Berry said today.
The legislation introduced by Mr Berry follows a decision of the Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in May 2001 to award unpaid parental leave to casual workers. This is not a new provision, an earlier bill for unpaid parental leave for workers in the private sector was passed in 1992.
"By adjourning the bill, Mr Rugendyke and the Liberals have turned their backs on the few families who will not be covered by the Full Bench decision.
"Unlike the Catholic University provision which provides for 3 months full paid leave and 9 months at 60% of salary, these provisions would have come at no cost to employers , all leave would be unpaid.
"To add emphasis to the mean-spirited reaction by Mr Rugendyke and the Government today, Chief Minister Gary Humphries boastfully introduced the Women’s Action Plan today.
"The Government’s refusal to agree to these meagre provisions shows the hollowness of their platitude-filled statements in support of the family.
"Mr Rugendyke is clearly out of touch but the Liberals know exactly where they are coming from , back with John Howard , warm and comfortable in the 1950’s
"In the dying days of the Assembly this denial of unpaid parental leave provisions for a small number of casual employees is nothing more than disgraceful," Mr Berry concluded.