Public service victims supported, but domestic violence 'inevitable': John Lloyd

The Public Service Commissioner denies his dispute with the public service union over leave for victims is "bitter" and says it is inevitable that public servants will be affected by a society-wide problem like domestic violence.

Commissioner John Lloyd's comments come in the wake of a call from the The Domestic Violence Prevention Council of the ACT for compulsory domestic violence training for all public servants.

The council made the call after an analysis of 12 domestic killings in and around Canberra found a number of serving or former bureaucrats among both the killers and victims.

In a statement issued from his office on Monday, Mr Lloyd did not engage with the council's call for mandatory training.

But he did defend the commitment of the Australian Public Service's hierarchy in responding to the issue of family violence.

"APS leaders are committed to supporting staff in situations of domestic violence and have been resolute on this issue," Mr Lloyd said in his statement.

"With one in five women and one in 20 men affected by domestic violence in Australia, it is unfortunately inevitable that we have both victims of domestic violence and perpetrators in the APS.

"I, as Commissioner of the Australian Public Service, and my fellow colleagues are unequivocally opposed to domestic violence."

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Mr Lloyd has been in dispute with the main public service union, the CPSU, which has demanded that specific provisions for domestic violence leave be written into workplace agreements at departments and agencies.

But Mr Lloyd, whose agency has been instructing negotiators to strike out the proposed provisions, says domestic violence victims get all the help and support they need from their bosses.

"Any APS employee affected by domestic violence is offered, and has complete access to, the support and flexible leave options they need," the commissioner told The Canberra Times.

"I reject your suggestion of a bitter dispute regarding specified domestic violence leave."