Page 3613 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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unique grief for someone you have never met but it is a painful reality that affects many families. It is because of the thousands of Canberra families that have experienced miscarriage, including some of our own families, that we are today calling for paid miscarriage leave for every ACT public servant.
The grief and devastation that are felt by families following the loss of a child is immense. The stigma, guilt and loneliness that come with experiencing a loss like this are all too common in our society and, for families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the added shame makes it yet another reason that people often do not speak up.
Women have shared their stories of experiencing a miscarriage with the Pink Elephant Support Network, with one saying, “I returned to work the day after my D&C still bleeding and cramping heavily. I had used up all my sick leave for fertility treatments.” Another said, “I sat at my desk, bleeding, losing my baby, too terrified to take leave.” A third said, “I returned two days after my D&C. I was anxious, overwhelmed and scared. I had been a blubbering mess and unable to keep focus. I was in pain and Panadol was doing nothing. In the end I chose me. I told my boss I was going home and by the time I reached my car I could not even breathe through my tears.”
Earlier this year the federal government amended the Fair Work Act to include a provision for paid miscarriage leave and the then New South Wales Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, became the first Australian politician to lead a jurisdiction to offer formal and paid miscarriage leave to public sector employees. We thank both the federal and the New South Wales governments for these courageous moves. We must recognise the magnitude of this loss as we do other forms of bereavement—not with pity or inconvenience but with compassion.
The ACT government employs almost 25,000 Canberrans and, as the second largest employer in our city, we should be leading the way when it comes to supporting those who need support in our community. We are proud that the ACT government recently introduced pregnancy loss commemorative certificates recognising the life that is lost. But there is more we can do. We can support mothers, fathers and families through it.
According to the Pink Elephant Support Network, 74 per cent of women who suffer a miscarriage report feeling unsupported by those around them. This includes workplaces. It is heartening to see organisations such as MinterEllison, PwC, Tabcorp, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac, QBE and Zip sign up to the Pink Elephant Support Network’s program to educate their workplaces on the impact of pregnancy loss and provide them with the resources and information to support their employees through these challenges. Many of these organisations have introduced paid leave entitlements for miscarriage in excess of the five days we are calling for in this motion, and I think that is to be commended.
As a government, it is important that the ACT lead the way and adopt this important reform which will touch the lives of most Canberrans. The introduction of miscarriage leave is an important and measured step towards showing public servants that the government and their employer have their back.
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