Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Right now, Australian Services Union members are leading the charge for fairer wages and better conditions by pursuing the largest worker initiated single-interest employer authorisation, covering over 7,000 workers at 11 Victorian metropolitan councils. Workers at Merri-bek, Yarra, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Melbourne, Greater Dandenong, Port Phillip and Maribyrnong city councils have overwhelmingly endorsed pursuing a multi-employer agreement. This is an historic opportunity for local government workers to stand together and demand the pay and conditions they deserve, made possible by laws delivered by this Labor government.

Over six weeks, fabulous ASU delegates, like Craig from Darebin, Mel from Yarra, Dylan from Melbourne and so many more, have been leading this charge—holding meetings, mobilising workers and having crucial conversations to bring workers together as one industry.

Last week, more than 60 delegates from councils across Melbourne came together to demonstrate the strength and solidarity that comes from working as one industry. The commitment and hard work of these delegates is unwavering. They are seizing the opportunities of the long-awaited workplace reform for better pay and conditions and advocating tirelessly for their colleagues. Without their dedication, this would not be possible. By standing together, these workers are working together to make this vision a reality.

We in the Labor movement believe in the collective. Labor governments stand proudly with workers to collectivise and to get a better deal. For more than a decade, single-enterprise bargaining has allowed some employers to delay, divide and deny workers the pay rises that they have deserved. Under the coalition, enterprise bargaining collapsed to the point where only 14 per cent of workers were covered by an agreement that was in date. Wages were low and falling, and inflation was rising. But, after a decade of wage stagnation under the coalition, we are getting wages moving again. Our multi-employer bargaining laws are giving workers like Craig, Mel, Dylan and their colleagues real power to negotiate together for better.

Multi-employer bargaining means employers cannot put an agreement to a vote without union consent, ending dodgy tactics of bypassing workers and undermining negotiations. Workers across multiple councils who do the same work across different municipalities use their collective power to increase the visibility and importance of their work to the community and pressure for fair outcomes. They can share experience and expertise across councils, focusing on winning the best conditions for everyone.

These laws are making a real difference. They are bringing more employers, unions and workers to the table to negotiate agreements to deliver fair pay and better conditions. But, make no mistake, all of this is at risk. We know some employers don't like these changes. Recently, Brimbank City Council have displayed rank union busting, the likes of which have not been seen in local government in recent living memory. Workplace delegates have been illegally targeted, simply for exercising their rights. We will see an explosion of this sort of anti-union behaviour from bosses and workers' rights trampled on if Mr Dutton is back in charge of workers' rights in this country.

Mr Dutton has made it clear that they will tear up these hard-won rights if they get the chance. On multi-employer bargaining, Mr Dutton has said that it's a 'disaster' and that a coalition government will clean up the mess of multi-employer bargaining. The mess Mr Dutton should be referring to is that of his own party's making. The Labor government has been cleaning up that mess, every day, since 2022. Under Labor, wages are up, jobs are up and inflation is down. Those opposite have voted against laws to clean up that mess, every step of the way, and Australian workers know that cutting workers' rights is a risk. When he cuts, you pay.

Under the coalition, workers would lose the right to disconnect; multi-employer bargaining, leaving wages stagnant; gender equity protections; and same job, same pay rules that ensure fair treatment at work. But Australian workers know better. They know that only a Labor government holds the values of collectivism at its core and that only a Labor government has their backs, delivering higher wages, better working conditions and the job security every worker deserves.