Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Cost-of-living pressures are top of mind for Australian workers and households. While we are starting to see real wages growing, unemployment at record lows and inflation coming down, there is still more to do. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australian workers earn more and keep more of what they earn? How are the government's workplace relations reforms helping Australian workers deal with cost-of-living pressures?

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

Thanks, Senator Green, for the question. Three years ago Labor promised to get wages moving again, and three years on the Albanese Labor government has delivered. When Australians voted out a coalition government three years ago, they had enjoyed five consecutive quarters of real wages falling, wages going backwards. And now, after three years of the Albanese Labor government, we've seen five consecutive quarters of real wage growth, wages going forwards—literally a mirror image of the coalition's policy of deliberately keeping wages low. Labor is unapologetically for working people getting ahead, and we've delivered higher wages, low unemployment and lower inflation, with interest rates now starting to come down. There is still more to do, but our changes to workplace laws mean there's more money going into people's pockets. The average Australian full-time worker is now earning over $200 a week more under Labor than they were under the coalition, and more Australians are in work than ever before.

While we're focused on growing jobs and lifting wages, all we hear from those opposite is about cutting jobs and cutting pay. Just yesterday on the ABC, I sat across from Senator Hume as she repeatedly suggested jobs should be cut from—wait for it—the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Senator Hume said, 'If it's a backlog that you're clearing in Veterans' Affairs, why do you need permanent staff now?' So, after Labor has finally cleared the backlog of 42,000 veterans claims left behind by the coalition, Senator Hume and the coalition reckon we can cut those workers again, starting the backlogs again. Despite Peter Dutton telling people there won't be frontline job cuts, his own shadow minister is out there telling us their real plan. It is becoming very clear that we can expect the same thing to happen in Australia with the 36,000 job cuts because, when Peter Dutton cuts, you pay. (Time expired)

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

Senator Green, first supplementary?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Dutton and the coalition have voted against every single one of the government's cost-of-living support measures. Now Mr Dutton is promising a suite of cuts but refuses to outline what is on his chopping block. Why is it so important that the rights of Australian workers don't end up on Mr Dutton's chopping block?

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

We do know that workers' rights are on the chopping block at this election. Already Mr Dutton has promised to cut the right to disconnect; same job, same pay; and casual protections. Just recently he told women working from home they could job-share, halving their pay. But we still don't know what other cuts Peter Dutton has planned, because he won't be honest with the Australian people. He won't tell Australians what jobs he will cut amongst the 36,000 Public Service job cuts. He won't tell Australians what the extra targeted repeals of workplace laws will be when his shadow Treasurer promises there will be more. Senator Cash won't even turn up and debate me at the National Press Club during the campaign; that's how much they don't want to tell people. What we do know is they're taking their marching orders from their mates in big business. We had the HR Nicholls Society recently hand over their election wish list, and that includes things like abolishing all awards and the conditions that come with them. And what do the coalition say? Michael Sukkar said, having had that detailed work, they can now crack on and get moving quickly with their— (Time expired)

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

Senator Green, second supplementary?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given everything is on Mr Dutton's chopping block, especially workers' pay and conditions, why is it so important that no cuts are made to workers' wages and entitlements?

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

We know the working people of Australia won't stand for Peter Dutton's cuts, and I reckon some of those opposite are starting to know that too. As we heard on Insiders over the weekend, the coalition are turning on each other more every day. They've started leaking, briefing against the Leader of the Opposition and undermining the shadow Treasurer. One described the shadow Treasurer's Insiders interview as 'very strange'—putting it kindly! We even heard on the weekend that, apparently, supporters of Angus Taylor are keeping a hit list of people who have been leaking against him. They're checking that list twice and they're going to find out who's naughty and who's nice, because Angus Taylor is coming to town!

Even today we see a new article in the Sydney Morning Herald headlined, '"The leaking has to stop": Dutton warns dissent will cost seats.' They are now leaking about directives not to leak against each other:

Several MPs at the meeting, not authorised to speak about it publicly, said Dutton warned internal dissent could cost a few seats—

(Time expired)

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

Senator Watt, I remind you to refer to those in the other place by their correct titles.