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

In a few hours, we will vote on the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023. That bill gives gig workers and truck drivers life-saving minimum standards. I want to acknowledge Zhuoying Wang, who is in the gallery today, and her gig colleagues.

Zhuoying is a HungryPanda rider who has bravely spoken out about HungryPanda's treatment of its workers. HungryPanda recently cut the base rate for deliveries from $7 to $4, 57 per cent of the previous rate. They introduced a bonus scheme where riders must complete a set number of orders in an unrealistic, unsafe time frame. It's dangerous, and workers are getting injured. Together with the Transport Workers Union, she has organised peaceful protests, just as three years ago HungryPanda faced six weeks of protests from riders over slashed pay and for sacking two riders who spoke out about it. The protests were successful, and those workers were reinstated. This time, HungryPanda has taken a different strategy. Instead of sacking Zhuoying, they've just stopped giving her orders. In 100 hours logged in to work, she has earned just $84. That's 84c an hour. Eighty-four cents an hour is the system that the Liberals and Nationals are trying to maintain.

Zhuoying can't pay her rent. Her housemates are shouting her food. Despite all that, she's been here all week speaking to members and senators about the need for change. This afternoon, this chamber can do the right thing. Zhuoying told me:

I hope all the riders will be treated fairly. I look forward to the bill passing, not just for me, but for justice for all gig workers and the whole transport industry.

Good on you, Zhuoying.