Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

They really don't like the idea of workers getting a fair go, do they? If there's anything they hate more, I'm yet to find it! As I said, their happy place is cutting workers' wages and stopping legislation to fix it. That's where we're back to.

Senator Sheldon, as I said, the Albanese government promised to fight for workers' wages and we are delivering. Here is what we've already delivered in just 15 months: an 8.6 per cent increase for the national minimum wage this year—the largest increase on record; a 15 per cent increase for aged-care workers—aged-care workers who the former government refused to do anything about; the gender pay gap is at an historic low of 13 per cent; and wages growth has improved, increasing by 3.6 per cent over the year to June 2023 and 3.7 per cent over the year to March 2023. And the opposition have moaned and bleated every step of the way, just as they continue to do today.

But the reality is that loopholes do remain within the Fair Work Act which undermine worker pay and conditions. If a worker steals from an employer, it's a crime—as it should be. But if an employer deliberately steals from their worker, in most places in Australia that is not a crime. If a worker steals from an employer, it is a crime, as it should be. But, if an employer deliberately steals from their worker, in most places in Australia it is not a crime. So the Albanese government is acting to close this loophole by criminalising wage theft. We're also ensuring labour hire workers are paid at least what they would be paid if they were employed directly. We're empowering the Fair Work Commission to set minimum standards for employee-like workers in the gig economy. We're about closing loopholes, and the opposition should support us. (Time expired)