Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Bills Long Service Leave (Unpaid Leave) Amendment Bill LONG SERVICE LEAVE (UNPAID LEAVE) AMENDMENT BILL Second Reading Second Reading Adjourned debate on second reading. (Continued from 28 October 2008. Page 434.) The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (20:37): I wish to thank the Leader of the Opposition in this chamber for his contribution to the debate on this bill, and I am grateful for the indication of the opposition's support for this legislation. This bill was developed through open and extensive consultation. I would like to acknowledge and thank all the organisations and individuals involved in the consultative process and, in particular, members of the Industrial Relations Advisory Committee. The occurrence of workers taking lengthy periods of unpaid leave and subsequently returning to their employment is more common today than it ever has been. The changes introduced in this bill will ensure that the act reflects contemporary workplace requirements. The bill will clarify the averaging process in determining a worker's right to long service leave to ensure that the treatment of leave, paid or unpaid, does not lead to inequitable outcomes. These changes will bring much needed clarity to the calculation of long service leave entitlements. It will remove ambiguity in the existing legislation that potentially disadvantages workers who wish to take long service leave immediately or soon after a period of unpaid leave. Once again, I recognise the contributions of all those involved in the consultation process and the development of this bill, and I acknowledge their commitment to ensuring fairer industrial relations outcomes for South Australians. I thank the opposition and all other members who have indicated their support for this legislation. Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.