Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank the member for Spence for that question and for his fierce advocacy for low-paid workers in his electorate and right across the country.

Of course, in our first term, the Albanese Labor government delivered landmark reforms in workplace relations, with a very clear goal—that is, to get wages moving. This week marks a major milestone: one year since many of our reforms came into effect. These important reforms were always motivated by a strong belief that a race to the bottom on wages and conditions does not help anybody.

At the election, Australians voted for higher wages, and that's exactly what we are delivering. Recent ABS data confirmed the strongest annual real wages growth in five years. There are more people in work, unemployment is low and real wages are up. Of course we know that there is more work to be done, and that is why we are delivering on our commitment to protect penalty and overtime rates. If you rely on the modern award and work weekends, public holidays, early mornings or late nights, you deserve to have your wages protected. Our legislation to protect penalty rates is backed by workers like Ruth, who said: 'Working unsociable hours already impacts time with my grandkids. Without penalty rates, I'd still have to give up Sundays with them, but there would be no reward.' The Albanese Labor government refuses to allow Australian workers to go backwards.

I'm asked if there are any obstacles in the way. I'm afraid I do have to report to the House that there is an obstacle, and it's those opposite that are standing in the way. We are seeing the Liberal and National parties delay debate in the Senate, playing their silly little delaying tactics to stand in the way of these protections for workers. You might ask: 'Why this delay?' In their heart of hearts, they have never believed in backing working Australians.

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