Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Here we go again, same old Labor, coming into this place, moving another motion supporting Australian workers. How dare a government move motions in support of workers simply because they have championed legislation in this place that means higher wages and more stable and secure employment for Australian workers, leading to an economy where Australian workers are earning more and keeping more of what they earn. How dare a government have the sheer audacity to look at two situations, one with a worker taking from that till and getting prosecuted and another where an employer frequently steals from their employees and suffers the indignity of paying those wages back months or years later. This is a government that proudly wears as a badge of honour passing a law to criminalise industrial manslaughter and another one to solidify viability and road safety in our road transport industry.

I bet that even the mere thought of some of these measures is enough to make some of the members of this chamber sick to the very core. I can certainly guarantee that no member sitting on this side of the chamber suffers from such an affliction. I am not here to make those opposite feel better or to assuage their guilty conscience, nor do I make any apologies for bringing that about and nor does the Albanese Labor government. To all of those things and so much more contained within closing loopholes, those opposite had so many opportunities to show workers that they may not always be on their side but that they might put a bet each way on the fights that count. No.

In this 47th Parliament, those opposite had 48 opportunities to do this, and how did I arrive at that number when the motion clearly states 36? That's a great question. Around two weeks ago, when my colleague the member for Hawke submitted this motion for consideration, it was true. The Liberal National Party had seen the chance to do the right thing by Australian working families, and 36 times they said no. One worker, they may feel genuine compassion for. But when they pluralise them, a collection of workers, or a union, that really makes them feel very queasy indeed. They so often substitute their great boogieman, the union boss, they all have visualised in their very imaginations, and, like the bull staring into the red, they don't look at those standing behind them—Australian workers. Just like the bull, many a time they come to regret charging blindly at the red cape at the expense of forgetting what is behind it. Australian workers will remember. They will remember that, since the member for Hawke stood here two weeks ago to the day, those opposite had 12 opportunities to stand up for Australian workers. But since that motion was before the chamber last week, 13 historic moments have taken place. This parliament passed the second, and what appeared to have been the final, act of closing loopholes. And 12 more times the Liberal and National parties turned their backs on everyday Australians—13 reasons why indeed.

Life went on for those opposite, even after they were dragged kicking and screaming to their eventual support of the Albanese government's tax plan. They don't need to worry about listening to everyday Australians. You don't need to listen to the thousands of gig workers they wanted to deprive of minimum standards that will keep them safe on the job and keep them able to carve out a decent living, filling a role that the 21st century has unearthed. But those opposite can always choose to have pizza dropped off at their door and choose not hear and see the story behind how it got there. And they chose to 48 times in a matter of months. That's 48 more reasons for Australians to know that wages are moving again in this country. It's not due to any measures by those opposite in government or through their support in opposition. They are moving in spite of them, even to this very day.

I have a tip for those opposite. We shouldn't become a nation where workers rely on tips to survive. Australian workers need a government in their corner and have needed one for years. Last year AiG said that the Fair Work Commission should exercise restraint and caution when setting the minimum wage. This is, of course, different from 2018, before the pandemic, when AiG said:

… An excessive increase would reduce the job security of low paid workers and would reduce employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.

The champions of flexibility are pretty inflexible when it comes to raising your wages. It's a shame the opposition sing hymn and verse from their sheet.

There you have it. Yesterday was not a good time to lift wages. Today isn't either, and tomorrow never will be. Working families across Australia had 48 more times to see whose side those opposite are on, and it certainly isn't theirs.

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