Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House recognise:

(1)

that 21 April 2006 marks the 150^th anniversary of the eight hour day;

(2)

the achievement of stonemasons and building workers who marched through the city of Melbourne 150 years ago, gathering supporters on the way to Parliament to demand work life balance;

(3)

the rationale behind the eight hour day was to strengthen family and community by giving workers time for recreation, self-improvement and full participation in civil society; and

(4)

that dividing work and family time remains the biggest challenge facing workers, with working parents finding it difficult to fit in picking up children from school, shopping, housework and childcare into their demanding lives.

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