Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for the ACCC Enforcement) Bill and the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. In a list of issues which the Liberal and National parties really hate, I think No. 1 would be unions, No. 2 would be Medicare and No. 3 would be the transport industry. They really can't stand the transport industry. They've never supported good legislation in the transport industry.

The legislation we have before the chamber today adds to the great history of Labor governments. It was the Whitlam government in 1974 that brought in trade practices legislation for the first time. Nothing was done during the 23 years of inertia of Menzies and the subsequent prime ministers of the Liberal and National parties—nothing! We brought in trade practices legislation in 1974. Lionel Murphy, as Attorney-General, set up the Trade Practices Commission, which was the predecessor of the ACCC. During nearly a decade in government, those opposite did nothing about penalties for cartel behaviour. We came in and what did we do? We introduced a penalty of $10 million, and then we increased it to $50 million. We did that, and the coalition government did nothing. Now we're going to double it to $100 million, and the coalition government, until this morning, weren't sure whether they were going to support it. Now, by the way, in this omnishambles of a coalition opposition—they've changed the leader, but there's still a mess. Even this morning we could it see with the way they voted. They didn't have a clue what they were doing. No-one was more embarrassed than the member for Wannon. I think the member for Mitchell should come back. I want to bring back Alex. I think he'd be a better Manager of Opposition Business.

The legislation before the chamber is really important for Australian consumers because no new ideas and no constructive suggestions have happened from those opposite on the fuel issues and the challenges we're facing from the war in the Middle East—nothing from those opposite, just whinging and moaning and carping all the time. The conflict overseas has had an impact, and it's not an excuse to rip off Australians at service stations and at bowsers. It is simply not. We need to clamp down. I'm pleased the ACCC, in March this year, investigated a number of companies in relation to this issue. We need these higher penalties for petrol companies who do the wrong thing. That's why we're doing what we're doing. That's no excuse to jack up prices and rip off Australians.

The Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill is important as well. It allows the government to amend the Fair Work Act to allow truckies and road transport businesses to make an emergency application for a contract chain order to deal with the current spike in fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East. I wonder whether the coalition is going to vote against what the Trucking Association says and vote against what the Transport Workers' Union says. What are they going to do today? It's going to be really interesting to see how they vote. Are they on the side of the consumers, those with cars? Are they on the side of the transport industry, the truck drivers who get the food and groceries into our stores each and every day?

Under the Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission can require transport clients, including retailers, mining companies and manufacturers, to offer fair contract terms, ensuring that truckies and transport operators are paid enough to cover the cost of fuel. But currently that minimum of six months is required for a contract chain order. Our amendment will remove that waiting time, and the industry and the union support it. But those opposite—we wait to see whether they'll support this legislation. This is about more support for truck drivers who keep the country going. During COVID, we saw the benefit of the trucking industry—those in transport, warehouse, logistics and retail. They are absolutely vital. These new powers will ensure that truckies are paid fairer and on time, and it will help cover the high cost of fuel at the moment. We're backing our truck drivers to get a fair go, so costs can be shared fairly through the supply chain.

These two pieces of legislation today come on top of all the action we've undertaken in relation to addressing affordability and security. There's not one idea from those opposite, not one single thing that they've come up with to support the industry and consumers. Not one single thing has been offered by those opposite—nothing. Where's their plan? They've got no plan once again—an opposition bereft of ideas. They were in 2022, all through the last parliament under the member for Dickson, and they continued under member for Farrer and continue under the current opposition leader.

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