Foundation Workers Get 365 Days of Service on Registration and Can Apply for Long Service Leave Payments
Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
employer obligations employment records employment rights industrial relations labor rights long service leave worker registration
Introduced by: The Hon Sophie Cotsis MP (ALP); The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Aileen MacDonald LIB
“I contribute to debate on the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. Community service workers are disadvantaged in their ability to access long service leave due to the nature of the industry, especially given the prevalence of short-term employment contracts that are reflective of short-term service agreements, including with the New South Wales Government.”
“As the shadow Minister for Families and Communities, Disability Inclusion, Homelessness and Youth, I contribute to the debate on the Government’s Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. The proposed legislation affects full-time, part-time and casual employees in a range of for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, with the flexibility for contractors to opt in.”
Abigail Boyd GRN
“I contribute to the debate on the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024 and indicate The Greens’ support for the bill. The reform has been a long time coming. Unions in the sector and workers on the ground have long advocated for it, and The Greens have championed it for over a decade.”
Sarah Kaine ALP
“I, too, support the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. I acknowledge the work of the Australian Services Union, particularly the secretary, Angus McFarland. I know firsthand that, on behalf of the wonderful members of the Australian Services Union, Angus has been grappling with how to best contend with precarious work.”
Amanda Cohn GRN
“From my perspective as The Greens spokesperson for health, including mental health, I briefly add to the excellent contribution of my colleague Ms Abigail Boyd. The Greens welcome the introduction of a long service scheme through the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024.”
Mark Buttigieg ALP
“I am pleased and proud to support this important Labor reform in a long line of Labor reforms over a short period of time. I acknowledge the presence of the Australian Services Union [ASU] secretary Angus McFarland and officials. I do not think Jan Primrose is here, but I see former member Helen Westwood is. I welcome and thank them for their advocacy.”
Emily Suvaal ALP
“I make a brief contribution and speak in support of the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. I acknowledge the work of the Australian Services Union [ASU] and its secretary, Angus McFarland, along with Helen Westwood and Jan Primrose, who members know very well.”
Cameron Murphy ALP
“I associate myself with the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. I acknowledge the vital and important work of the Australian Services Union in running this most important of campaigns. I thank the secretary, Angus McFarland, and Helen Westwood and Jan Primrose.”
Tara Moriarty ALP
“I thank all members for their contributions to the debate on the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024. In particular, I thank the Hon. Aileen Macdonald, the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Ms Abigail Boyd, the Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, Dr Amanda Cohn, the Hon. Mark Buttigieg, the Hon. Emily Suvaal and the Hon. Cameron Murphy. I turn now to the issues that were raised.”
News articles and press releases
Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024
Ms SOPHIE COTSIS, Minister for Industrial Relations — 2024-06-05
The scheme will apply to eligible full-time, part-time and casual employees. Contractors will have the choice to opt into the scheme. The scheme will provide employees with 6.1 weeks of paid leave after 2,555 days of employment, which is the equivalent of seven years. The entitlement will apply irrespective of whether their service is accrued with one employer or more. Importantly, this will allow part-time and casual employees to reach the entitlement after seven years of employment, just as a full‑time worker would, and be paid accordingly. Once an employee has reached their initial entitlement, they will have access to a pro rata amount of leave for each additional 365 days of employment.