Page 2674 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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The Bill provides equal rights to parents adopting children; maternity leave - up to 52 weeks unpaid leave and six weeks compulsory leave following confinement; paternity leave - one week's unpaid leave at time of spouse's confinement and up to 52 weeks to be the primary care giver; 12 months' continuous prior service to be eligible; leave is a net entitlement to be shared between spouses and does not go beyond the first birthday of the child.
Again, I emphasise that in these times, when employment opportunities are difficult, it is most appropriate that employees who become pregnant or who otherwise wish to avail themselves of parental leave are provided with protection where they do not have it through the award system or the non-award system. In cases where those with award protection for these conditions become entitled by way of negotiation and either conciliation or arbitration in the Industrial Relations Commission, those provisions would override the Act. Indeed, in any award amendment that involved consideration by the Industrial Relations Commission, it is unlikely that the provisions that flowed would be any different from the national standard. This legislation picks up the national standard for non-award and award areas where there are no provisions in the ACT. I think the Liberals have been shown to have done a bit of a double dance on this one. They supported it once; Trevor Kaine supported the legislation. He supported the submissions that went to the Industrial Relations Commission and resulted in these very fine provisions that we are providing for ACT residents and those who work in the ACT by way of this legislation. We will carry out our role of improving the working conditions of workers and being the caretakers of those conditions already in place.
Question put:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 9 NOES, 6
Mr Berry Mrs Carnell
Mr Connolly Mr Cornwell
Ms Ellis Mr De Domenico
Ms Follett Mr Kaine
Mr Lamont Mr Stevenson
Ms McRae Mr Westende
Mr Moore
Ms Szuty
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Clause 1
Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.
Sitting suspended from 12.22 to 2.30 pm
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