Public Sector Wages

NSW Public Sector

NSW Minister Gives Family Leave a Tick

NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, has announced he will be writing to the State Industrial Relations Commission today requesting them to pass on extra parental leave arrangements to NSW families.

This follows a ruling by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission yesterday to grant additional leave for parents including:

• a maximum of 104 weeks of unpaid parental leave,

• a maximum of eight weeks unpaid paternity leave and

• a part-time return to work

"The NSW Commission now has an opportunity to pass on these improved work and family arrangements to employees under state awards," Mr Della Bosca said.

"While the Howard Government opposed these measures before the Commission, the NSW Government embraces family-friendly arrangements that benefit both businesses and workers.

"The fact Mr Howard has refused to guarantee these improvements in his workplace changes sends a distressing anti-family message to Australian workers and businesses.

"It is further evidence of how out of touch he and his Government are with the concerns of Australian families and their desire to balance work and home life," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The Commission dismissed the unfounded objections raised by the Commonwealth, and ruled that there was a clear need for award-based provisions on parental leave.

"Despite what Mr Howard has said about the ruling, it was a huge blow to his Government's argument that current arrangements were adequate, and that all employers could be trusted to grant family leave to employees," he said.

"Flowing on these new provisions to state awards will ensure workers and employers in NSW can take the opportunity to improve workplace relations and productivity through greater flexibility.

"The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has made a sound decision to support the model jointly put forward by the State and Territory governments," Mr Della Bosca said.

"Such a model, once passed on to state award employees, will ensure our workforce can count on flexibility in work arrangements for those with caring responsibilities.

"I challenge Mr Howard to promise the community he will not try to take back this important win for working families," Mr Della Bosca added.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/public_sector_wages/20050810_leave.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005