Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

I want to make some remarks in relation to some of the debate last night on my amendment. First of all, I want to correct the record where Senator Hanson-Young made some remarks in respect of the second reading vote. She said, 'We saw the Labor opposition cross the floor and cuddle up to the Morrison government.' I want to make sure it's on the record that not all of the Labor Party crossed the floor. You weren't quite correct there, Senator Hanson-Young. There were some Labor members missing: Senator Brown, Senator Cameron, Senator Carr, Senator Chisolm, Senator Marshall, Senator McCarthy, Senator Sterle and Senator Urquhart. I know a number of those are simply not in favour of this bill. We shouldn't assume that the entire Labor Party are supportive of this. The reality is that there is substantial division. I suspect that when my amendment is voted on we won't see some of those people in the chamber as well.

I'd also like to address some remarks made by Senator Farrell yesterday in response to my amendment. He talked about whether or not Centre Alliance were protecting workers. He said that we were fairweather friends of workers. There are many people in this place who can proudly stand up and say they are the friends of workers, but I'm not sure that Senator Farrell is one of those. So we're not going to be lectured by Senator Farrell, who was the secretary of the SDA from 1993 to 2008, on the issue of who has interests in the workers of Australia. Senator Cameron and Senator Marshall are senators who at least have some credibility when it comes to defending workers. It's no coincidence that they were not in the chamber last night and are not here now.

Senator Farrell—through you, Chair—how can you stand there and lecture Centre Alliance on protecting workers when your union, the SDA, sold out around a quarter of a million workers in the retail and fast-food industry? An Age and Sydney Morning Herald investigation across 2015 and 2016 revealed the SDA deal across the fast-food and retail sector left more than 250,000 workers paid less than the award and saved businesses at least an estimated $300 million a year. How's that looking after workers?

In June last year, the supermarket giant Coles admitted underpaying much of the workforce in cosy deals it struck with the SDA. It was admitted by Coles that much of their workforce, up to 60 per cent, would be better off if they were paid the minimum award rate rather than what they were paid from deals struck up with the SDA. The majority of Coles workers would have been better off without the SDA's arrangements. How's that looking after workers, Senator Farrell? Senator Farrell claimed yesterday, although this was not picked up in Hansard, that we have some of the highest paid retail workers in the world.

Senator Farrell interjecting—