Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

If only there were quick fixes. If only it was easy to just snap your fingers, change a circumstance that's been developing over many years and somehow magically it would all be fixed. But we don't live in fairyland on this side of the House. We deal with the realities, which are complex. I know it's lovely to make them sound simple and easy, and if only it were that way. I have kids who are in their late 20s and early 30s who are going through exactly the sorts of challenges that have been described. On this side we absolutely understand it. Within our families, we're living it. Our constituents are certainly experiencing the challenges. As someone who has sat in this chamber for about six years now and seen inaction on that side, it's been frustrating to see where we have got to as a parliament and as a country with those on the other side in charge.

I understand the desire for it all to happen yesterday. We would love that too, but, sadly, we've been in government only since May, In that time, we have initiated extraordinary measures to turn around this giant ship that is our government. Some things are going to happen in the next couple of months which I know will make a really tangible difference, and that's what I want to take you through. As much as I admire the passion and the commitment for getting things done, I think it suggests that we don't have the same passion and commitment, and that's just wrong. On this side, we are totally driven to reduce inequality, to create opportunities for people and to give not just my kids but their kids and their kids' kids a better place to be. I have to say that I think there are probably some on the opposition side as well as on the crossbenches who think that. We just know they've got it wrong for the last decade, and our challenge, which we fully take responsibility for, is to get it right.

Think about the things that members in this chamber have witnessed just since May and even in the last couple of weeks—for a start, action to get wages up. There are people whose wages are rising when there was no prospect of it a year ago or even eight months ago. So let's remember what some of those measures are. A minimum wage increase in line with inflation for low-paid workers is dollars in people's pockets. It's dollars that they get to spend to eat better and to be able to pay their rent. It doesn't mean, of course, that suddenly things are perfect, but that's why one of the first actions we took was to support wage increases. That minimum pay rise of $40 a week for full-time workers benefits around 2.7 million workers.

Let's think about the support we gave for an increase in the salaries of aged-care workers. It's hasn't been done in this place in the last decade. None of the three previous governments had written anything to the Fair Work Commission to support pay increases. These are the things that make a difference and will continue to make a difference, as the Fair Work Commission works through that aged-care process. Let's think about the legislation that this chamber has been talking about today a lot of which, I have to say, is about women. It's about pay and inequality but it's also about gender and inequality. That legislation contains provisions that can bring about some of the most fundamental changes in making sure that the work of women is no longer undervalued. There are women and men who work in the caring professions, but those professions are largely feminised. These are the things that actually change the country, not just with a sugar hit and not just this instant but for the current generation and for future generations.

We need the support of the crossbenches to make these things happen. You and we can work collaboratively on this, and that will be the best way forward for this country—not to be constantly saying, 'It's all or nothing.' This is about collaboration. Collaborating across the board is how we're going to turn Australia around.

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