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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) last year, the Fair Work Ombudsman found evidence of exploitation of 20 per cent of workers on the 457 visa,

  (ii) the problems with the 457 visa scheme result from weak regulation and exploitative employers,

  (iii) exploitation of foreign workers also increases exploitation of Australian workers, and

  (iv) promoting division between workers based on ethnicity and nationality is a common tactic used by conservatives to distract from exploitation by employers; and

(b) calls on:

  (i) the Government to reform migrant worker visa schemes to prevent employer exploitation of all workers, and

  (ii) all parties to cease promoting division between foreign and Australian workers.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Exploitation of any migrant worker will not be tolerated. The coalition government has already established a Migrant Workers' Taskforce to identify and swiftly rectify instances of worker exploitation. This taskforce has already commenced its important work, which includes examining the failings of 7-Eleven to address the significant breaches of workplace laws by its franchisees. The government has committed an additional $20 million in funding to the Fair Work Ombudsman to enhance its powers and ensure investigations into potential breaches of workplace laws are effective. The government has also committed to increasing penalties on employers who underpay their workers or failed to keep proper employment records.

Question agreed to.