Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sheldon for his question, and I know he has made his life's work the safety of Australian workers. It shouldn't have to be said, but every worker should be safe at work and return home at the end of the day. As Senator Sheldon noted, some employers, sadly, do the wrong thing and risk their workers' safety.

Earlier today, Senator Cash rose in this place and outlined how, on their side of politics, they stand with employers. But, on this side of politics, we stand with employers who do the right thing by their workers. The Albanese government wants to see the Australian industry, especially vital ones like manufacturing, grow from strength to strength, and we've delivered the policy settings for them to do so. But, more importantly, we stand by workers' rights to be safe at work. That's why we have acted to improve worker safety by introducing new criminal offences of industrial manslaughter, expanding the functions of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to include silica and are better supporting first responders with PTSD.

We stand with workers. We stand with employers who do the right thing. And employers who do the wrong thing by their workers should take this as a warning: if they risk the safety of workers through unsafe practices, we will take action.