CANBERRA Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee is calling on the ACT Labor-Greens government today (November 24) to offer paid leave for public sector employees who experience a miscarriage.

In the Legislative Assembly, Ms Lee will put forward a motion that public sector employees receive five days of paid leave should they experience a miscarriage or stillbirth.

“The grief and devastation that is felt by parents following the loss of a child is immense, and we can’t expect anyone to use their annual leave to deal with this grief,” said Ms Lee.

“The introduction of miscarriage leave is an important and measured step toward showing public servants that the government and their employer has their back.

“The ACT Legislative Assembly has largely agreed on the importance of these issues in the past, and I hope in this instance we can reach tripartisan agreement that paid miscarriage leave should be available to all ACT public servants.”

According to Ms Lee, approximately one in four pregnancies result in a miscarriage.

In June 2021, the New South Wales Government became the first Australian jurisdiction to offer miscarriage leave to public sector employees.

The Federal Government has since amended the Fair Work Act , to offer two days of paid bereavement leave to all employees covered by the Act.