Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

There is a very important issue—which I acknowledge is contentious at times, but again it is very relevant to this debate—and that is the conditions the workers enjoy when they go to work these days. They do have lunch breaks. Although it has been eroded, there is a certain period of time they go to work for. They have a certain level of pay and superannuation. There is occupational health and safety. Again, these were not given to them by employers. These rights were not given to them by the likes of Liberal and National Party MPs coming to work. They were given to us because the MPs came to their senses after such very radical actions by unions—often going on strike, often occupying the workplace. I go back to the stonemasons of the 1850s, who led the struggle for a shorter working week, for an eight-hour day. These are conditions that have been so important for building a quality of life in Australia. Again, it was not politicians doing that but civil disobedience—strikes are a form of civil disobedience.

But what have we been exposed to in this debate? We have been exposed to such a sanctimonious approach by the Liberals and Nationals. And what have we got from Labor? We have Labor calling this a stunt. I understand that the Greens will also be denied leave, denying us the ability to vote and to consider the Greens motion on this very important issue. It is not a stunt—that is not the message that Labor needs to get. Yes, I realise that they are in a difficult position because their leader, Bill Shorten, was out there so quickly condemning civil disobedience actions which have been a part of how the Labor movement has been built as well. But this misses the opportunity for Labor to allow the debate and to get up there and correct the record.

Civil disobedience is a very fine part of our history. It is something that we should be proud of and it will most definitely continue. With the urgency of the inequality that our society is facing and the threat of climate change there will be more such actions, and I welcome them.