Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Since taking office, the Albanese Labor government has been focused on getting wages moving and easing cost-of-living pressures—in contrast to those opposite, who support a race to the bottom on wages. How is the government's approach to the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review helping ensure Australian workers earn more and keep more of what they earn?

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

As you may have noticed, there is no limit to how many times we will talk about the actions of the Albanese government to ensure that Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. This is something that opposition senators are going to need to get used to for the remainder of this term. We are going to talk about it over and over again because it's something so many Australians are looking forward to.

To help Australians earn more, the Albanese Labor government has consistently backed low-paid workers through the annual wage reviews in 2022, 2023 and now in 2024. What a contrast to the nearly 10 years of coalition government that we had, with a government that refused to actively engage itself in the Fair Work Commission's decisions about the minimum wage. It's no wonder, therefore, that we saw wage suppression in this country, especially for low-paid workers, for the nearly 10 years they were in office.

It is a good thing that now, under a Labor government—the Albanese Labor government—we have a government that is prepared to roll its sleeves up, put forward submissions and put forward an argument to the Fair Work Commission, as we have done each year since we have been in office. As a result of that action, the minimum wage for a full-time worker in Australia is now $110 higher than when we came to office.

We understand that low paid workers, more than anyone in our community, are feeling the pinch from cost-of-living pressures. How much worse off would they be if we hadn't taken the action that we took to support a wage rise for the minimum wage? That is now bearing fruit, with people receiving $110 more than what they were receiving when we took office.

And they don't like it. They don't like a government getting involved and fighting for fairer wages for workers. The same approach that we've taken this year, a submission to the Fair Work Commission, that the wages—

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, President: can the senator please clarify. Is that $110 per week, fortnight or year?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Rennick, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat.

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to know—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister Watt.

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

It is an unfortunate thing to have been a senator for nearly five years and only get a chance to speak when he interjects. Senator Rennick never gets to ask a question; he only ever interjects. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that answer, Minister.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order across the chamber. I have Senator Stewart on her feet. Senator, please ask your first supplementary.

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that response. Given that the Liberals and Nationals have suggested that asking for a real pay rise for low paid workers is just window-dressing, why is the Albanese Labor government fighting for a pay rise for low paid workers?

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

Thank you, Senator Stewart. Well, it's pretty straightforward. The Albanese Labor government is fighting for a pay rise for our low paid workers because it's the right thing to do for people who have been hit hardest by the rising cost of living.

But it is becoming increasingly clear with every passing day that the coalition have a different approach. Get this—talk about Sherlock Holmes!—Senator Hume told Sky News that the Labor government wants minimum wages to go higher as a cost-of-living measure. Senator Hume is onto us! She has worked it out! She has worked out that a Labor government wants minimum wages to go higher as a cost-of-living measure. Well done, Senator Hume. You might earn yourself a mug as a reward for working that out.

We have also seen the member for New England, Mr Joyce, who, in his latest comeback tour to become the leader of the rabble of the National Party, is out there every week telling Sunrise that arguing for a real pay increase for low paid workers is 'window-dressing'. We know that's the way to get votes in the National Party room— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stewart, second supplementary.

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that response. I note that the Liberals and Nationals have committed to a targeted repeal of the government's workplace relations reforms to restore the low-wage economic settings that they support. How have the Albanese Labor government's decisions and actions helped reverse the pattern of wage stagnation, while getting more Australians into jobs?

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

Thank you, Senator Stewart. Our government is fighting every day to ensure Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. I reckon by the end of this term we can have coalition senators saying that. Repeat after me, coalition senators: 'The Labor government will ensure that Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.' It's pretty straightforward. We know you believe it because you voted for our tax cuts. So you must agree that a Labor government delivers Australians the ability to earn more and keep more of what they earn.

Of course, we remember Senator Cash—and I haven't mentioned her in question time for a while, so let's give her another go. She said that our measures would 'close down Australia' by letting Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.

We had the member for Banks say that the secure jobs bill was 'a grotesque piece of legislation'.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sitting next to the minister and I cannot hear his answer. I just ask that those opposite stop interjecting.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Thank you, Senator Gallagher. I'm trying my very best to keep order in the chamber. Minister, please continue.

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

I'll just have to turn up the volume, I guess! The shadow Treasurer has now also confirmed that they will take a targeted package of repeals to the next election. Every Australian worker has a target on their back under the coalition.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister Watt.