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

I'd like to thank the member for Macarthur for that question and also for the powerful way he stands up for workers in his electorate, particularly low-paid workers.

Of course, in our first term, the Albanese Labor government passed landmark workplace relations reforms, which delivered on getting wages moving again for Aussie workers. We continue to stand up for Aussie workers, making clear election commitments that we are now delivering on. One of these election commitments was to make a submission to the Fair Work Commission for a real wage increase for minimum wage and award-reliant workers. It was one of the first actions we took, and, from 1 July, award and minimum wage workers saw an increase of 3.5 per cent. Since we've been in government, the pay packets of minimum wage workers, on average, have increased by $9,120.

I'm pleased to report to the House that, today, we have delivered on another election commitment to protect overtime and penalty rates, with our bill passing the Senate. We made this election commitment because there are currently applications before the Fair Work Commission that would take workers' pay packets backwards. Our Labor government won't stand by and see wages go backwards. Critically, the passing of our legislation means that penalty and overtime rates for around 2.6 million workers are now protected because of this Labor government. They are protected for workers like Anthony, who I met today when this bill passed. He said: 'The fact that penalty rates are now protected is going to provide a sense of relief for a lot of Australian workers. It's going to be one less thing to worry about. All in all, this is a great day for Australian workers.' Anthony can be reassured that his penalty rates and overtime are now protected. Indeed, all of those who rely on the modern award safety net—many of whom are women and young people—can be reassured that, with our action, penalty and overtime rates are protected. If you work unsociable hours or weekends and rely on the safety net, you deserve to be compensated.

Our government is getting on with the job of delivering on our election commitments. Of course, in addition to boosting wages for low-paid workers, our government is delivering tax cuts for every single worker. This is because, at our fundamental core, our Labor government is committed to Australian workers earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

See this speech in context