8th of March, 2023
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Women, and it relates to reproductive health leave. Today is International Women’s Day, and as we have heard, the theme is ‘Cracking the code: innovation for a gender-equal future’ – to break the code that creates the barriers that prevent women from participating fully in education, the economy and society in general. The World Economic Forum estimates that if we keep doing what we are doing it will take 268 years to reach equality. In 2023 women’s reproductive health is still seen as an illness and often stigmatised. Normalising and supporting reproductive health is a key lever for gender equality in the workplace and in society.
Unions like the Health and Community Services Union have been advancing five days reproductive health leave for their members for some time. The Victorian Women’s Trust implemented it some years ago. Private companies such as Future Super have implemented menstruation and menopause policies that provide employees with extra paid leave or flexible working arrangements. These policies are designed to normalise these issues and ensure people do not have to use their sick leave for essential bodily functions.
Women are sick of using sick leave, personal leave and leave without pay to deal with menstruation, miscarriages and abortions. Reproductive health leave would assist women enormously and keep them in the workforce longer. This is a code cracker. We have seen it work in Ireland and India.
So, the action I seek is that the minister adopt reproductive leave as a matter of government public policy.
Written Response, Received 20th of June, 2024:
As Minister for Women I am deeply committed to achieving gender equality, including removing the barriers to women’s workforce participation to create equal workplaces. As you are aware, despite the significant strides we have made to advance gender equality in this state, there is much work to be done.
I agree that menstruation and menopause have an impact on women’s workforce participation, including forcing many women to use sick leave to manage symptoms.
I support organisations and businesses who are leading the way to adapt their workplaces and policies to be more supportive of these conditions. Victoria has consistently been a leader in innovative workplace policies, including passing the Gender Equality Act in 2020 and introducing paid family violence leave prior to the change to the National Employment Standards. I have confidence that upcoming enterprise bargaining negotiation processes for key public sector cohorts will continue to raise important issues, like the impacts of menstruation and menopause for women and gender diverse people at work.
I also acknowledge there are still barriers to women accessing affordable and empowering sexual and reproductive healthcare and information. That is why the Victorian Government continues to invest in women’s health and wellbeing, with the 2022/23 State Budget delivering $19.4 million in funding to Victoria’s network of women’s health promotion organisations, including ongoing funding for the statewide1800 My Options website and phoneline.
Since 2017 the Government has funded the rollout of 11 women’s sexual and reproductive health hubs, with 23 service locations across the state, to increase access to a range of contraception, pregnancy options and sexual health services. The Government has also committed to establishing new hubs across the state as well as menopause support groups and mental health programs.
I am also pleased to share that the Victorian Department of Health has released the Victorian women’s sexual and reproductive health plan 2022-30 to support Victorian women, girls and gender diverse people to achieve optimal sexual and reproductive health outcomes and enjoy positive sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.
More information is available at: Victorian women’s sexual and reproductive health plan 2022–30 | health.vic.gov.au.
The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP
Minister for Women
