ACTU vows to continue paid DV leave fight

The Australian Council of Trade Unions says it will continue fighting for paid family violence leave, after it was rejected by the Fair Work Commission.

The FWC full bench on Monday said it's not satisfied paid leave is necessary, or it would overcome the disruption to workplace participation.

However, the commission also said it believes leave is needed to deal with the issue because current arrangements are insufficient, flagging unpaid leave and access to personal/carer's leave to deal with family and domestic violence.

The claim was put forward by the Australian Council of Trade Unions as part of the four-yearly review of modern workplace awards.

The decision is being chalked up as a first-round victory, with the FWC commending the ACTU for being an agent of "social utility".

"While the FWC has not been able to hand down a decision for paid leave at this time, it has left the door open for it in the future and we will fight until it is a workplace right for all," president Ged Kearney said in a statement.

"Australia will become the first country in the world to have a nationally enshrined right to family and domestic violence leave."

The commission now wants to convene to hear submissions on unpaid leave and accessing personal or carer's leave for family violence reasons.