Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

Has the member for Wakefield ever seen someone not stay for debate on their own motion? How little respect would someone have to have for their own motion that they would not even bother to stay and listen to the debate? This is quite extraordinary. I have never seen this. I have never seen someone not stay for debate of their motion in parliament.

We came into parliament to raise issues of concern. The member for Wakefield has sat through this entire debate, to his credit. He has spoken about his personal concerns for workers, which he has consistently been doing for the last nine years, to his credit, and he is here. The member for Bendigo has done nothing in her life but been a member of the union—and I say that without contempt or disparagement. This is an issue that, apparently, she believes is important and she gave her speech and then left. She gave it five minutes of her time. That just shows you the contempt she holds for her own motion. She has absolute and utter contempt for it. It just shows that it is all politics and no substance.

Let us talk about substance. Let us go to the substance of the 417 visa issues that were raised here in the federal parliament by the member who could not even be bothered to stay for the debate on her own motion. She did not even bother to stay for the debate on her own motion. What is the point of her coming into federal parliament to debate and argue issues when she does not even bother to stay? Let us go to the substantive point of the motion. The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced work over two years ago and raised a range of issues that the government has actually taken strong action on. My colleague the member for Fisher outlined some of those actions but let me reiterate them because they go to the substance of what the government is doing, as opposed to what the member for Bendigo is not doing—as in not even bothering to be here.

In 2015, the government made it illegal to pay or charge for a visa outcome, requiring 417 visa holders seeking a second year on their visa to provide a pay slip as proof. If their pay slip shows they are not being paid a certain amount, they cannot get an extension of their visa. In 2015, the government also established Taskforce Cadena, through which the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Border Force can together investigate and address cases of worker exploitation. Recently, the government also announced that employers of working holiday-makers will be required to register with the ATO, ensuring that the government sees that people are indeed being employed. Well before the Leader of the Opposition was suddenly talking about the issue, the government had established a worker task force to rectify instances of exploitation and had announced new powers and funding for the Fair Work Ombudsman. This has been going on for over 12 months. This is substantive action for over 12 months to deal with issues.

The member for Bendigo could not even be bothered being here for her motion. That is how little regard she has for the issue. And then let us look at what the Leader of the Opposition has done or, more importantly, has not done. Show me your actions, and I will show you the value of what you say. Your words are proven true by your actions. For the member for Bendigo, who did not even bother to stay here, her actions show her true belief.

When Labor was in government, what plans were there to protect these vulnerable workers? Zero. In fact, when the Leader of the Opposition was the relevant minister, the person with the power, he slashed funding to the Fair Work Ombudsman by 17 per cent and cut Fair Work Ombudsman staffing by 20 per cent. That is what the Leader of the Opposition did. Those were his actions to back up his lack of worth. That was the importance he put on this issue. Labor can say what they like now. They can puff their chests up and talk about the action they are going to take, but, when the Leader of the Opposition was the minister, he cut staffing and did nothing. The member for Bendigo could not even be bothered to stay. Those are Labor's actions and that is Labor's worth. (Time expired)

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