Sally Sitou (Reid, 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 backing workers in the gig economy? Why was this change necessary, and how does it compare to other approaches?

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 Reid for that question and also her longstanding advocacy for Aussie workers right around the country. The Albanese Labor government's world-leading laws lay the foundation for gig workers to achieve for the first time minimum standards. Under our laws, the Fair Work Commission can now consider applications for better minimum pay and conditions for platform drivers, like Uber drivers. The commission is now considering two applications to improve the pay and condition of these workers. If these applications are successful, platform food delivery and rideshare drivers will receive life-changing pay increases. Drivers will also benefit from better conditions and have stronger rights to representation, dispute resolution and protection if injured. Rosalina is just one of these rideshare drivers who will benefit from these minimum standards. She explained that this is going to make a difference to hundreds of thousands of workers Australia wide.

These changes are part of a suite of reforms introduced by the Albanese Labor government designed to get wages moving for Australians. I'm asked if there are any other approaches to this that we've taken. There was another approach, and that was the approach taken by those opposite, who neglected digital-platform workers for almost 10 years, despite repeated industry calls for better standards. They left these workers to fall through the cracks of the workplace safety net. I'm sure if these workers could have rated the former government's performance, I have no doubt that the Liberal and National Party would struggle to even get a one-star review.

But not only did the Liberals and Nationals not care about gig workers when they were in government; let's look at their approach when they were in opposition. When our government took action to provide protections for these workers, those opposite voted against them, and they argued that a lack of minimum standards, low pay and dangerous working conditions were—and I quote—'a good model' and 'working well'. Well, how out of touch is that? It is clear that those opposite have not learnt their lesson. They continue to be completely out of touch, completely consumed by themselves and divided and obsessed by their internal machinations. Those opposite are so completely divided that they are turning on each other, and I doubt that ridesharing in an Uber is even an option anymore for them. While they are fighting completely amongst themselves, our government is getting on with the job to protect— (Time expired)