Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes that:

     (i)   temporary and migrant workers make a significant contribution to the Australian economy and Australian society,

     (ii)   the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1990, and

     (iii)   the Convention's provisions protect the human rights of migrant workers and shield them from unconscionable exploitation; and

  (b)   calls on the Government to:

     (i)   ensure that temporary migrant workers who come to Australia receive settlement assistance, language training and culturally appropriate services,

     (ii)   institute a rigorous program of inspection and enforcement to ensure that the conditions and pay migrant workers receive are fair and meet the legal requirements, and

     (iii)   show its commitment to leading the world in the protection of the rights of migrant workers by immediately ratifying the Convention.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, unfortunately, I suspect that I will require the standard two minutes, but let's go. The government recognises the importance of providing legal protections to migrant workers. Australia already has strong protections in place for migrant workers. Importantly, these are the same protections afforded to all Australians. The fundamental rights of all persons in Australia are already covered by the international human rights treaties to which Australia is party. Domestically, migrant workers are protected through a range of antidiscrimination legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Migrants and temporary entrants are also subject to the same workplace rights and protections as Australians. These protections are set out in legislation.

In 2008 Labor introduced further protections for temporary skilled workers, in particular 457 visa holders, through the Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Act 2008. This act strengthens the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements and ensures that extra protections are afforded to visa holders. It is also through these laws and policies that Australia ensures compliance with Australia's international human rights obligations in relation to workers and migrants more generally. Australia does not intend to become party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Question negatived.