Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the motion moved by the member for Forrest about good Australian jobs. This is an area close to my heart, and close to the whole Labor Party. The clue is in the title of our party: the Labor Party. We've always been a party about jobs. It has been said before, and it is so true, that modern Australia's version of fairness started with industrial relations, whether you go back to the Harvester case or even before that. But this motion is just another example of the wrong priorities from members of the Liberal-National coalition government.

Already this year we've seen the Turnbull government prioritise big banks over local public hospitals and schools, and then commit in question time—again today—that this would be their focus at the next election. We've seen the Turnbull government prioritise grants to reputable charities but without completing any tender or due process. We've seen the Turnbull government prioritise cuts to penalty rates over standing up for workers' take-home pay, especially for some of the lowest-paid people in our society, and now we're seeing the Turnbull government prioritise self-congratulation over the real story, treating workers simply as a statistic, without giving a damn about any single one of them.

The Turnbull government try to bring facts to a debate about good, secure jobs, but all they ever bring are more smoke and more mirrors. So let's have a look at the real story of employment, and unemployment, in Australia. For a start, there are more unemployed people now, under the Turnbull government, than there were when the Labor Party was in government. In September 2013, there were 702,300 people unemployed. In June 2018, there were 719,000 people unemployed—16,700 more people. We have record underemployment—that is, people who are actively looking for more work but can't find it. We have record low wage growth—something not touched on by those opposite, I notice, even though it's of such concern to the Governor of the Reserve Bank that he's mentioned it regularly. When the cost of living is rising faster than wages, it is workers and their families who feel the real strain—they're effectively going backwards. Forty per cent of workers are now in insecure work—that is, contract, casualised or labour hire. For people under 25, it's over 50 per cent. It makes it difficult for them to ever get ahead.

This self-congratulatory motion, patting themselves on the back and popping champagne corks, talks about the government getting the economic settings right. But I think there's a lot more work to do. I challenge anyone to go out into their community, talk with local workers doing it tough and ask them what they think about the government's economic framework—particularly that record low wages growth. Ask them what they think about the Turnbull government's priorities. I'll tell you what I reckon they'll think: they'll think the Turnbull government is out of touch. Instead of bringing motions to the Federation Chamber to congratulate themselves, why isn't this government taking action to ensure good, secure local jobs are obtained for all Australians?

Labor has already announced a range of policies that will support workers and will support good, secure jobs and conditions. For a start, we will restore penalty rates in our first 100 days of government and legislate so that they can never be cut again. We will reform the definition of 'casual' so that it is used for the purposes for which it was originally intended. We will prevent employers forcing their workers into sham contracting arrangements to avoid direct employment. We will provide 10 days paid family violence leave for all workers who need it. We will abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Recently, we announced that we will crack down on dodgy labour-hire companies that rip off and exploit workers. Tackling unfair labour hire is part of our 'same job, same pay' policy. A Shorten Labor government will protect workers and ensure they get a fair deal by tackling unfair labour hire, cracking down on dodgy labour-hire companies that rip off and exploit workers. Labor will legislate to ensure that workers employed through a labour-hire company receive the same pay and conditions as people employed directly, who might actually be working directly alongside them at the worksite. Labor's policy is based on a simple principle: if you are doing the same job, you should get the same pay. At the moment, there are too many workers in Australia subject to unfair labour-hire practices, often treated like second-class citizens with lower wages, worse conditions and no job security. For some workers, labour hire and casual work is a pathway into a permanent job, but for too many workers it has become a way of life. For these workers it's tough to pay the rent and the bills, let alone make longer-term decisions like taking out a car loan or buying their own home. That is not good. We need to look after workers. That's why Labor will act to restore fairness to the labour-hire industry and to protect workers.

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