Lib Senator Misses The Point, Sledges Paid DV Leave As “Another Cost”

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Published

December 11, 2016

It’s usually members of the Immigration Department or rowdy backbenchers who deliver the bulk of the Coalition’s intolerant gaffes, but Senator Mathias Cormann has just notched one as the Minister of Finance.

Speaking to Sky News a lil’ earlier today, Cormann went ahead and said a proposed nationwide paid domestic violence leave system would amount to “another cost” on the economy.

The minister said enshrining a provision of ten days of paid leave to survivors of domestic violence “will have an impact on our international competitiveness,” and that “it’s not something that we are attracted to.”

Of course, it’s callous to weigh up the merits of a scheme that will objectively help survivors of abuse based on its projected cost, but Cormann’s stance also misses the likely financial benefits of paid leave.

Immediately allowing survivors the time and space to seek assistance without extra financial pressure may very well reduce the need for government-funded crisis centres and services. Oh, also, it could save bloody lives.

That’s a take which was adopted by Labor’s family violence minister Terri Butler, who said Cormann is “obviously confused: it’s domestic violence, not domestic violence leave, that costs our economy and harms our international competitiveness.”

FWIW, Cormann justified his stance by commending the Turnbull government’s current measures on eliminating family violence in Australia. He said it’s important to “pursue policy settings that don’t have counter-productive consequences potentially.”

Because the only “counter-productive consequences” at stake here are financial. Obviously.

State leaders are working through the issue rn, but expect the Fair Work Commission to deliver its ruling on a nationwide leave system in the near future.

Source: ABC / Sky News.
Photo: Stefan Postles / Getty.

Domestic violence is never acceptable. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, calls can be made 24 hours a day on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line, or to Lifeline on 131 114.