Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. When speaking with workers across my home state of New South Wales, I often hear that the Albanese Labor government's workplace relations reforms have helped them deal with cost-of-living pressures. How are our government policies helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn? Why is investing in secure, well-paid jobs so critical to building Australia's future?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. Since May 2022, the Albanese Labor government has worked hard to lift wages to keep up with cost-of-living pressures. Our workplace relations changes are designed to lift wages, create more secure jobs and ease cost-of-living pressures for working Australians. After a decade of the Liberals and Nationals deliberately keeping workers' wages low, this government sees pay rises and secure jobs as integral to addressing the cost of living. The proof is in the pudding. Wages are rising at the fastest rate in more than four years, with real wages growing for four consecutive quarters 12 months after falling under the coalition. It's a little bit of a worry that the shadow minister for finance doesn't understand the concept of 'real wages', but maybe that's why they deliberately kept real wages low.

Over one million jobs have been created since we came to office, four in five of which are in the private sector. The gender pay gap is at its lowest level ever, with women's average weekly earnings increasing by $173.80 a week under this government. Under our government—under Labor—wages are up, inflation is down and unemployment remains low. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens by changing the law and by changing laws in ways that the coalition voted against every step of the way.

We've seen what the coalition have got in store for the future, and we saw more of it on the weekend. On Sky News on the weekend, we saw Senator Cash doubling down, confirming that the coalition will repeal the right to disconnect and the changes we've made to the definition of casual work. Does that sound familiar? Of course, Senator Cash is on the record saying, 'Those on the coalition side of the chamber will always stand with the employers of Australia.' The fact is that the Liberals and Nationals are for big business, not for the average working Australian. You will be worse off under Peter Dutton and the coalition. (Time expired)

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

Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that Senator Cash has said that the right to disconnect is an act of complete contempt and that Mr Dutton would repeal it, if elected. How is the right to disconnect helping end unpaid overtime? Why it is so important that Australian workers retain the right to disconnect?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. I know the coalition has had difficulty getting its head around the concept of the right to disconnect, so let me again explain what it's about. It's about ensuring that workers are not required to respond to work emails and messages outside of their paid hours of work. So it's about reducing unfair, unpaid overtime. Of course, the right to disconnect is only one of many, many, many changes to the laws that we've made that the coalition voted against.

I think that change seems fairly reasonable to most working Australians. Of course, Senator Hume described adding more rights for workers as 'unreasonable'. Last year I spoke to a teacher here in the ACT, Jacob, who said: 'The right to disconnect actually allows us to have our own personal life. The right to disconnect—what it allows us to do is to make sure we actually look after our wellbeing.' How unreasonable of workers like Jacob to want to look after their wellbeing! Under Peter Dutton, you will be worse off.

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

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Over the weekend, Senator Cash said that additional rights for workers have sent a chilling effect across the economy, stating that Mr Dutton would seek to repeal them, if elected. Why did the Albanese Labor government legislate more rights for casual workers, and how would casual workers be worse off if those rights were withdrawn?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. We do know that Senator Cash is a little bit prone to a little bit of hyperbole. The 'Dark Ages' was Senator Cash, 'closing down Australia' was Senator Cash, 'empty supermarket shelves' was Senator Cash and now 'chilling effect' is Senator Cash. Unfortunately for Senator Cash, as I've said, under Labor, after our workplace law changes, we've seen wages go up, we've seen inflation go down, we've seen unemployment remain low, we've seen employment go up, we've seen productivity rise and, of course, we've seen industrial action low. That doesn't sound particularly chilling to me.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's the Dark Ages!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It does sound a lot like the Dark Ages, doesn't it, Senator Cash!

The Albanese Labor government's changes mean that casuals working like permanent employees will have a clearer pathway to permanency and the job security that provides. If a worker wants to remain a casual employee, that's a legitimate choice, but we know some workers want more job security and that choice shouldn't be removed by an employer who wants to call them casual when they're really permanent. That's the way the law will stay under Labor. Under the Liberals and the coalition, it will change for the worse. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.