Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to help Australian workers, and what has been the response to our commitment to helping Australian workers earn more and keep more of what they earn?

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

I'd like to thank the member for Leichhardt for that question. It was wonderful to visit with him workers in Cairns just last week, talking about how important fair wages and conditions are.

Of course, in our first term, our government has delivered landmark legislation when it comes to industrial relations, with a clear goal of getting wages moving again. Building on this today, I've introduced legislation to protect the penalty rates and overtime rates of 2.6 million workers in this country. We know that right now the modern award safety net can be undermined. Some employers already have applications on foot to trade away penalty rates of low-paid workers, and, of course, that would leave some workers worse off. Penalty rates and overtime rates matter. They compensate people for working irregular hours and are an essential feature of many workers' take-home pay.

I've been asked what the response has been to this very important legislation and our commitment to protecting penalty rates. I met with Liarne, a retail worker, on Saturday. Penalty rates for her make up about $7,500 per year in her pay packet. When Liarne gets home from her late shifts, her partner is already in bed, and she told me it can be really isolating. That's why penalty rates matter to Liarne. They allow her to earn more and keep more of what she earns, being compensated for her late-night work. For workers like Daniel—when speaking about what life would be like if he didn't have penalty rates, he said:

… I'd have to work more. See my family less, see my dog less, see my friends less. Just not go to the movies, not ever have a holiday …

It's for workers like Liarne and Daniel we made a clear election promise that we would legislate to protect penalty rates, and this promise was clearly endorsed by the Australian people. This plan was endorsed by the Australian people.

While Daniel and Liarne back our plan to protect penalty rates, it is disappointing that the coalition are not making their position clear. They seem to be having a bob each way, on one hand supporting Australian workers and on the other hand talking Australian workers down. Well, while the coalition dither around on whether or not they will back Australian workers, it is this Labor government that's getting on with the job of delivering our commitment to protect people's pay, ensuring people earn more and keep more of what they earn here in Australia.