Submissions

To: Education and Workforce Select Committee
Date: April 2026

Purpose

he purpose of the submission was to oppose the Employment Leave Bill – which will replace the Holidays Act - on the basis that it would negatively impact upon disabled workers and workers in general by reducing holiday and leave entitlements. 

Summary of DPA submission

DPA opposes the Bill and asks that it be withdrawn and re-written as a collaborative partnership involving government, unions and employers with input from popular stakeholder groups including disabled workers.  

We are particularly opposed to those aspects of it which impact on the ability of workers, particularly disabled workers and workers with health conditions to take leave. 

DPA opposed the Bill for the following reasons: 

• Reduction of ability to take time off from work 

• Fewer public holidays for some workers 

• Reduction of what is paid out to employees who take annual leave, especially those who are paid additional allowances 

• Reduction of holiday pay for people employed on commission or bonuses (as these types of income will no longer be included in holiday pay calculations). 

• Casual employees who work regular hours will lose the right to annual, sick and bereavement leave. 

• Employees on ACC will no longer accrue annual leave and sick leave while they are receiving ACC compensation and not working and face reduced leave entitlements upon their return.