Kathleen Funchion: Urges workplace support in domestic violence bill
Kathleen Funchion spoke in support of a bill to provide leave and workplace supports for people experiencing domestic violence. She welcomed that the bill was not being opposed and said it would create opportunities for victims to address dangerous situations and reduce stigma.
Support for the bill
Funchion welcomed the bill as a positive step for people experiencing domestic violence, saying it creates opportunities to address dangerous situations and to reduce the stigma victims feel. She described the measure as a practical mechanism to help victims access supports during the working day.
Reasons for backing
She noted that domestic violence robs people of their dignity and often their health, both physical and mental health, and acknowledged that while men can be affected, primarily women are victims and children suffer serious knock-on effects. One of the single biggest reasons victims do not leave is having nowhere to go and lacking economic independence.
Employment and practical support
Funchion emphasised the role of steady employment in providing economic independence, a support network and self-esteem, and argued that leave could help people hold on to their jobs. She said the leave might be a helpful first step for someone to open up and speak to somebody about their situation.
Workplace culture and HR
She called for a workplace culture in which employees are not afraid or embarrassed to tell HR about domestic violence concerns and are provided with flexibility to deal with the issue. Funchion framed the bill as creating a supportive space at work so victims can access services and plan their safety during work hours.
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Thanks very much. I am sharing time with my colleagues. First of all, I just want to thank my own colleagues, Deputy O'Reilly and Deputy Macdonald, for bringing this forward. I welcome the fact that we are here tonight being able to say that the bill is not being opposed. I think that is a good move and a good step, particularly in the topic of domestic violence. So, I believe this bill being put forward by my colleagues is about creating opportunities for those who are experiencing domestic violence to address the dangerous situation that they are in and further reduce the stigma that some victims feel. Domestic violence robs people of their dignity and often their health, both physical and mental health. And these issues hide in darkness until we as a society create opportunities to bring them into the light. One of the single biggest reasons why women don't leave a violent partner, and I acknowledge that men do experience domestic violence as well, but primarily it is women, and it obviously then has a very serious knock-on effect on children. And one of the single biggest reasons why they don't leave a violent partner is having nowhere to go, no economic independence, and in some cases they cannot find a safe environment to plan their escape. Some people that are experiencing domestic violence can find it hard to hold down a job because of the need to take time off work. Steady employment plays a vital role in helping because it provides people with economic independence, a support network, and the self-esteem derived from performing a valued role and being appreciated. So it's crucial that there is an opportunity and a chance for women to hold on to their employment, and often you will see situations where, you know, it's obviously very difficult to talk about the situation. It's very difficult for people to even consider leaving, but I suppose if you felt that there was an opportunity there, and it's only one step. It's important to say that it is only one step, but it is important that you would have access to this leave, and it might even be a helpful first step in addressing the issue and addressing the difficulty. It might be your chance to actually open up and speak to somebody about it. So I support this bill as a way of helping victims in a supportive space to deal with the impact of violence in their home and a practical mechanism for them to access supports during the working day that may not be possible outside of work hours. We must strive for a workplace culture around this issue, so employees will not be afraid or embarrassed to tell HR about domestic violence concerns and are provided with the flexibility to deal with the issue. We'll go in the new, as we look at the natural to reduce traffic the situation, of AT OF THE W Sådol sickening, of ATO. When you want to use it, all the classes were they were titled by theствIOUS RAistäUTORS, giving them to you now. And there is a maintenance. You can really hold up, but I feel that little bit free, but I feel that, please PRESIDENT, of course, some months ago, due to the issue of not being there, so I don't know, how do I assume that you are responsible for waiting the issues of your system. It's gone even better, so you should be covered all days later, but there have been the demand I'll check out. Don't a step back tomorrow, so you can get it. OKNnicious Comcast. I'll just calmheiro and I'll work that with it.
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