Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Gorton from moving the following motion forthwith:

That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) the horrific cases of exploitation in workplaces around the country, including at 7-Eleven;

(b) a bill to protect workers from this exploitation has passed the House and is before the Senate right now;

(c) the Prime Minister reportedly has a financial interest in 7-Eleven;

(d) the former Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, has reportedly lobbied to water down this bill;

(e) the Government is now reportedly seeking to delay this long overdue bill until August - two years after worker exploitation at 7-Eleven was first exposed; and

(f) any further delay to this bill would deny important protection to workers from exploitation; and

(2) therefore, calls on the Prime Minister to commit to this House that this important bill to protect workers from exploitation will be passed through both Houses of Parliament before the winter adjournment.

We are in a situation where this government is refusing to protect any workers in this country, and the Prime Minister is conflicted—

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