Question: Can my employee keep me on unpaid leave?

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
section_headers: Using paid leave
section_content: Employers and employees are encouraged to explore options that enable an
employee to take their accrued leave entitlements during the coronavirus
outbreak. Options include:

taking accrued annual leave
taking any other paid leave (such as long service leave or paid leave available under an award, enterprise agreement or employment contract)
directing employees to take accrued annual leave in certain circumstances
taking any other paid leave by agreement between the employee and the employer.

Employers may also choose to give employees extra paid leave that is above
their minimum entitlements for a period of time (e.g. instead of standing down
the employee without pay).
Under the new JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act, qualifying employers can
request an employee take paid annual leave, and agree with the employee for
them to take leave at half pay.
Learn more:

JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act
Pay and leave during coronavirus


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer addresses different forms of paid leave versus unpaid per the original query but some of this information may be useful to the requester, especially the second link provided.
Does not address the question of unpaid leave

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
section_headers: Using unpaid leave
section_content: In many circumstances, employees won’t have access to paid leave during the
coronavirus outbreak. For example, if they are permanent but have already used
all their accrued leave entitlements. In these situations, employers and
employees can agree for an employee to take unpaid leave.
Under the Fair Work Act, unpaid leave is also available for employees in
certain circumstances, such as unpaid carer’s leave for casual employees.
Learn more:

Pay and leave during coronavirus

More information:

Unpaid carer’s leave


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Is responsive to the question and gives additional resources via links.
While the answer is not overly specific it does give an answer to the requester even if it is not totally satisfactory. Additional links may have more helpful or specific information regarding requester's scenario.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions
section_headers: Employer sponsored temporary work visas
I am a Temporary Skill Shortage visa holder - what should I do if I have be stood down or my hours are reduced?
section_content: Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid
off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the
opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements.
Businesses will also be able to reduce the hours of the visa holder without
the person being in breach of their visa conditions or the business being in
breach of their employer obligations.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer refers to visas and visa holders and has nothing to do with unpaid leave.
Does not address the question of unpaid leave.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad