Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

We know, of course, that they continue to out themselves about what their views are. Today Senator Cash said:

Those on the coalition side of the chamber will always stand with the employers of Australia.

There it is: with the employers; against the workers. We recognise that good employers value their workers. That's why this is connected to enterprise bargaining. That's why this will encourage good behaviour. That's why, for all their bleating about Qantas, which is one of the companies that have used labour hire loopholes in order to have people working side by side with the same experience and the same conditions to drive down their wages, we don't hear anything about that now. They will never stand up for working people. That is the truth.

Remember when during the election campaign the former Prime Minister said any increase in the minimum wage would wreck the economy? That is what they said. I stood proudly with a $1 coin during that election campaign and proudly said that I didn't want people to fall behind. This legislation is about people getting ahead. Those opposite can't talk about cost of living when they support wages being in decline. We on this side support good employers and we support workers. (Time expired)

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