Opposition Leader Bill Shorten believes every woman has the right to claim workplace support if they are a victim of domestic violence.
But that doesn't mean he backs a trade union campaign for mandatory leave.
"Every woman has the right to be supported at work, with the right to claim leave if she is the victim of family violence," the federal Labor leader told the ACTU congress in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The council has lodged a claim as part of the modern award review for 10 days paid domestic violence leave, with congress backing a resolution endorsing the push on Tuesday.
Australian of the Year Rosie Batty has also supported the claim but wants employers to go further - offering abuse victims mandatory access to abuse leave.
ACTU secretary Dave Oliver told ABC radio on Wednesday that arguments from some employers that offering the leave - so victims could attend court and get legal advice - was too expensive were outweighed by the benefit of staff retention.
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said it would be complex for small employers to cope with a mandatory system.
But she was encouraged that 1.6 million workers were already covered by award agreements that offer leave provisions for domestic violence victims.
"It's worth noting that wherever this provision exists in employment agreements, very few people will ever need to use it," she told reporters in Canberra.
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