Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today Labor announced our support for 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave to be put into the National Employment Standards. Will the Prime Minister join with Labor and support this very important reform?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I was pleased to be with him this morning at the launch of White Ribbon Day, where we both made the commitment, yet again, to bring an end to violence against women.

Not all disrespect of women leads to violence against women, but that is where all violence against women begins. Respect for women must be at the very heart of what it means to be an Australian, and that's why we are taking strong action right now to stop family and domestic violence at the start. Last week, we launched the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme, which ensures that those who breach domestic violence orders from the court will be in breach of the law. We're amending the Family Law Act to stop perpetrators directly cross-examining a victim in family violence matters. We're introducing the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill this week to criminalise, as I noted, the breach of personal protection orders issued under the Family Law Act.

Turning to paid family and domestic violence leave, the Fair Work Commission recently rejected the ACTU's claim to introduce 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave into all modern awards, but it is still considering the role of unpaid family and domestic violence leave. We respect, as honourable members know, the independence of the commission. We await that decision and we'll consider it very carefully.

But, regardless of what the commission decides, Australian men must think about what they can do to advance equality and call out violence whenever they see it. In our roles as fathers, sons, brothers, colleagues, mates and leaders, all of us are capable of saying that that behaviour and that language is not okay when we see someone showing disrespect.

I want to remind the honourable member, the Leader of the Opposition, that he recently made a very deliberate decision to visit the CFMEU picket line at the Oaky Creek North mine, where the union has been running an outrageous campaign of vile abuse, threats of physical—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will cease interjecting. Members on both sides will cease interjecting. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance: the question was about domestic violence leave.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't called the Prime Minister yet. Members will cease interjecting. I have taken the Manager of Opposition Business's point of order. I'm listening closely to the Prime Minister. If people would listen to all of the Prime Minister's answer with respect to the drivers of domestic violence, I think the Prime Minister is in order. The Prime Minister.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That objection, that point of order from the member from Watson shows how he fundamentally misunderstands the cause of domestic violence. It is disrespect for women. You have got members of the CFMEU threatening domestic violence, and does he condemn it? Oh, no. His leader goes to show his solidarity. Let me say this to you: it's about time the Leader of the Opposition stood up for something. He could stand up for respect for women. He could stand up for Australia. He could stand up for the security of our country. (Time expired)