Amanda Rishworth's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Workplace Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
I would like to thank the hardworking member for Hasluck for her question. Since the Albanese Labor government was first elected, we have been working to deliver higher wages. Just a few months...
I would like to thank the hardworking member for Hasluck for her question. Since the Albanese Labor government was first elected, we have been working to deliver higher wages. Just a few months ago we passed legislation to protect penalty and overtime rates, delivering on our election commitment. This means all those workers relying on these rates over the Christmas period can be reassured that, under this government, their penalty and overtime rates are protected. This year our government advocated to the Fair Work Commission for a wage increase for our lowest-paid workers, meaning that over the course of this Labor government minimum wage earners are, on average, more than $9,000 better off. Our world-leading gig worker reforms are delivering platform delivery drivers in Australia minimum standards, including life-changing pay increases. This year we have also seen our determination to reinvigorate enterprise bargaining paying off. We are now seeing the highest number of employees on record covered by enterprise agreements, and these agreements are delivering substantial pay increases. Our government has delivered early educators and aged-care workers a well-deserved pay rise, finally recognising the important work that they do. This year, we've also extended the right to disconnect to all workers covered by the Fair Work Act so more people can turn off their phone and spend important time with their loved ones, particularly over the Christmas break. Our government is getting on with delivering our commitment to get wages moving. I will compare that to those opposite. Before the last election, we did have a coalition plan—you may have missed it—and that was to force working women into part-time, job-sharing arrangements, cutting their take-home pay. They also promised to rip away the right to disconnect, wanting people in this country to work longer for less. And, of course, they promised to repeal important reforms that are delivering better wages for Australian workers. Despite the coalition's plan being thoroughly rejected by the Australian people, we now have the Leader of the Opposition reheating last year's Christmas leftovers. When asked whether she would roll back our measures that are delivering better wages and conditions, she said she would look at it all. Everything is on the table when it comes to those opposite. While those on the other side continue to fight and squabble for just one job, this Labor government is fighting for well-paid jobs for every single Australian.
Wages and Salaries | Questions without Notice | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Moore for that question and, of course, for his decades of passionate advocacy for working people in this country. The Albanese Labor government was elected on a...
I'd like to thank the member for Moore for that question and, of course, for his decades of passionate advocacy for working people in this country. The Albanese Labor government was elected on a promise of getting wages moving, and that is exactly what we are delivering. Only Labor is committed to increasing the pay packets of working Australians. The Albanese Labor government has delivered significant changes to achieve this. We have reinvigorated enterprise bargaining, with a record number of employees now covered by enterprise agreements, which continue to be a key source of wage growth in this country. Unlike those opposite, we have proudly advocated to the Fair Work Commission for a minimum award wage increase each and every year we have been in government, supporting almost three million low-paid workers. Our government took action to protect penalty rates and overtime, making sure that the pay of those who work on weekends or unsociable hours does not go backwards. We introduced same job, same pay laws, and now thousands of workers are benefiting from pay increases across mining, aviation, warehousing, railways and meat processing. Our government has backed and funded wage increases for early educators and aged-care workers, who are now thousands of dollars better off because this government recognised the essential work that they do. We put the framework in place to allow gig workers to be fairly paid. They have been underpaid for too long. Only this Labor government is delivering higher wages for working Australians. We know there are risks. The biggest risk is those opposite—the Liberal and National parties. The Liberal and National parties proudly boasted, when they were in government, that a key part of their economic architecture was putting downward pressure on wages. More recently, the Leader of the Opposition, when asked if she would repeal our important reforms that have delivered wage increases and job security, said she would look at it all. Does this mean that the Leader of the Opposition would remove the same job, same pay changes, leaving workers worse off? Would she remove minimum standards for gig workers, leaving them worse off? Would she scrap protections for penalty rates? Would she scrap pay rises for our essential aged-care workers and early childhood educators? We know that those opposite fought, tooth and nail, every single one of these reforms. But while they fight amongst themselves, we're getting on with the job of delivering to Australian workers and making sure we're getting wages moving again.
Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 will deliver fairness and certainty for workers in the black coal...
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 will deliver fairness and certainty for workers in the black coal mining industry and their employers. This legislation is designed to ensure eligible workers have a clear pathway to access their hard earned long service leave entitlements quickly and in full. This will benefit workers across the black coal mining regions including the Hunter Valley and the New South Wales North Coast, that Illawarra, Central Queensland, and Mackay and the Whitsundays. For decades, portable long service leave has been a vital entitlement for employees in the industry, allowing them to accrue leave as they move between sites and employers. However, disputes about who is covered by the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Scheme have meant that many eligible employees are missing out on their lawful entitlements. This issue has particularly impacted employees in mechanical and supply services. The two recent decisions of the full Federal Court of Australia on these matters have clarified the scheme's coverage. Many employees in the black coal mining industry can now access their entitlements under the scheme and in some cases, employers may have liabilities dating back to 2010, potentially involving debts of millions of dollars in unpaid levy for long service leave. The government is taking decisive action through this bill to resolve these legacy issues. The bill provides a practical, time limited pathway for employers to settle historical levy debts. This pathway will enable employers to pay their levy in a financially sustainable way and connect employees with their entitlements. To ensure fairness, employers that have already begun paying their debts in good faith will also be able to opt into this pathway. The bill allows employers to set up payment arrangements for outstanding levy debts, to be paid in instalments over six years. Once an employer has paid 80 per cent of the amount owed, the remaining 20 per cent will be waived. This represents a balanced approach intended to incentivise employer participation, protecting the viability of the scheme and supporting employers with significant levy liabilities. Greater employer uptake ultimately benefits their employees who will gain access to their entitlements sooner. Importantly, the 20 per cent debt waiver has no impact on worker entitlements—eligible workers will receive the full entitlements they're owed. Employers will need to specify the employees and periods covered under the payment arrangements. This upholds a principle that payments should be directly linked to individual workers' entitlements. The bill builds in flexibility and support to ensure eligible employees will not miss out on their lawful long service leave entitlement. In response to stakeholder feedback, timeframes will be able to be adjusted so employers can conduct thorough checks and identify all eligible employees. Coal LSL will also engage with employers through the process to provide support with establishing their payment arrangements. The historical nature of these issues will mean that employer records may be incomplete. To prevent this from impacting workers, the bill adopts a fair and workable approach to establishing arrangements and calculating employee entitlements. This includes allowing certain simplified calculations, as well as allowing certain reasonable assumptions to be made. Such an approach will ensure incomplete records do not stand in the way of connecting employees with their historical entitlements. Some employers, operating in good faith, have already paid long service leave entitlements directly to employees upon cessation of employment. To ensure that employers don't pay twice, the bill provides that employers can offset eligible payments against their debt, in certain circumstances. Alongside supporting the payment of historical debts, the bill will also strengthen the scheme's compliance mechanisms by updating penalty arrangements. The bill links the 'additional levy' rate to the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate plus two per cent, which ensures the 'additional levy' functions as an effective deterrent to late payments into the scheme by employers. This bill represents a fair outcome for employers and employees. For employees, this bill provides certainty and recognition after many had been previously excluded from the scheme. Employees who may have previously missed out will have their service recognised and be connected with their lawful entitlements. For employers, it provides a clear and fair process to resolve debts that, in some cases, go back 15 years. The 20 per cent debt waiver and the ability to pay in instalments will assist employers in paying their debts. In that spirit, these reforms have been developed in consultation with industry representatives, unions and the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation. Broadly, stakeholders have expressed support for these changes as necessary and proportionate to maintain confidence in the scheme. I would like to thank all those stakeholders for their constructive engagement with this issue over a number of years. This bill is a practical and balanced response to complex legacy issues. It reflects the government's commitment to supporting employers to pay their debts and connecting their employees with their lawful entitlements. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.
Workplace Relations: Gig Workers | Questions without Notice | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Richmond for her question. She is a champion for working people, and part of this government that is delivering for Australians. The Albanese Labor government is...
I'd like to thank the member for Richmond for her question. She is a champion for working people, and part of this government that is delivering for Australians. The Albanese Labor government is delivering a better deal for gig workers by introducing reforms to ensure minimum standards for workers engaged on digital platforms while preserving the flexibility they want. For too long these workers fell through the cracks of our workplace relations system, with many relying on tips to survive. Our Labor government does not believe that this is the Australian way, which is why we introduced important changes to protect these workers. Today we are seeing these reforms in action. Our laws have brought together the Transport Workers' Union, Uber and DoorDash to the table to reach a groundbreaking agreement which will now be passed by the Fair Work Commission after consideration. If approved by the Fair Work Commission, this agreement, delivered by our reforms, will mean that, for the first time, platform food delivery drivers will have a minimum floor that protects their pay and represents life-changing increases to their income. Workers will also benefit from better conditions and have stronger rights to representation, dispute resolution and protection if injuries or accidents occur. The companies will also benefit from a stable workforce and a level playing field on pay and conditions. This is what cooperative and productive workplace relations looks like. This morning I met with Nabin, a delivery driver here in Canberra, who told me that, if approved, this agreement means that, when you're ordering food, the driver who brings food to your door will be getting paid decently—getting paid what he or she deserves. I'm asked if there are any alternative approaches. The alternative approach was that of the coalition. While they were in government, they ignored the calls from these essential workers for a better, fairer industry. Of course, when they had the chance to support our important protections, the Liberal and National Party voted against them, arguing that a lack of minimum standards was a good model and working well. The question for the Leader of the Opposition is whether rolling back these important protections for some of our lowest paid workers is still part of their agenda to save her leadership. We know that just a few weeks back, when asked about rolling back Labor's important workplace reforms, her answer was, 'We'll look at it all.' Well, our government is looking after workers while they remain divided. (Time expired)
I thank the member for Corangamite for the question and also for her advocacy on behalf of working people right around this country. The Albanese government has delivered the most significant...
I thank the member for Corangamite for the question and also for her advocacy on behalf of working people right around this country. The Albanese government has delivered the most significant workplace relations reforms since the Fair Work Act was introduced and is delivering higher wages for Australian workers. Of course, as mentioned by the Treasurer, the latest ABS data released last week shows that, under the Albanese Labor government, we've seen the longest run of real wages growth in a decade. One policy delivering significant pay increases for hardworking Australians is our same job, same pay reforms. The Albanese Labor government introduced this change based on a very simple idea: if you're doing the same work, you deserve to be paid the same. But this wasn't happening, and we had seen workers employed by labour hire receiving significantly less than other staff that they worked alongside. Well, our government has fixed this. It's been just a year since pay rises started to flow as a result of our same job, same pay changes. On Friday, I met with a group of flight attendants who, before our laws, were wearing the same uniform, doing the exact same job and getting paid $20,000 less than direct employees working alongside them. Our laws have fixed this, delivering fair pay for thousands of workers across a range of industries. Domestic flight attendant Thomas told me that, since these pay rises under the same job, same pay laws kicked in, he and his co-workers now have 'dignity' and 'equality', and he can now afford to take a holiday. Our government is working hard to deliver for people like Thomas. I am asked: what could put at risk these pay increases? I want to be very clear. The biggest risk to working people's wages and jobs is those opposite. Just a few weeks ago, while the Leader of the Opposition was trying to deflect attention and save her job, she reignited the old Liberal Party industrial relations playbook by threatening to roll back the very reforms that were delivering better wages and conditions for working people. The Liberal and National parties haven't changed. They aren't listening, they have no ideas and, of course, they are just focused on themselves. The only job that the Leader of the Opposition cares about is her own job. And while those on the other side fight and bicker and argue, there's only one side of this parliament that's committed to working Australians, and that's the Albanese Labor government, and we'll get on with that job.
Political Advertising | Questions without Notice | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Kennedy for his question. One thing he did reference in his question was his long and distinguished public service. I would like to recognise the unveiling of his...
I'd like to thank the member for Kennedy for his question. One thing he did reference in his question was his long and distinguished public service. I would like to recognise the unveiling of his portrait today, which recognises that 50 years. I think we can all agree it is a striking portrait at that. Going to the member for Kennedy's question, as the Speaker has rightly pointed out, this is in the jurisdiction of Queensland state law. But I do agree with the member for Kennedy that truthful content in political communication is a genuine issue. It is an issue that has been examined by this parliament through several avenues. The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters considered this issue in its last term, resulting in the Special Minister of State introducing legislation for consideration, which contains a model to regulate and govern truth in political ads. There's an open invitation from the Special Minister of State for all members, including the member for Kennedy, and senators to meet with him to discuss this important reform. We know that regulating paid political communication and, indeed, more broadly, mis- and disinformation is a complex issue, with many members and senators having varied ideas, concerns and views on these types of pieces of legislation. I also note that states and territories are in different stages of legislating this type of content in paid political communication, with my home state of South Australia being one of those with the most progress. The Australian Electoral Commission, one of the most trusted Commonwealth agencies, who have the primary task of running our federal elections, have made their views clear. The AEC have consistently given evidence that this is not an area of law that should be rushed or approached without careful consideration. This includes, of course, the question of who should be the authority and regulator of the content of truth and opinion. As the Commonwealth, we must consider the constitutionally implied freedom of political communication in any reform. But the member for Kennedy does raise an issue that concerns all elected members of parliament. I would say that one thing that I'm always reminded of regularly is that the Australian public are not silly; they often can see through these smear campaigns and rhetoric, and I always put trust in the Australian people.
I thank the member for Werriwa for that question. It has been nine weeks and four days since our legislation to protect penalty rates came into effect. This government took this action because,...
I thank the member for Werriwa for that question. It has been nine weeks and four days since our legislation to protect penalty rates came into effect. This government took this action because, if you work on weekends and public holidays, you deserve penalty and overtime rates. If you are one of the almost 6,000 award-reliant workers working in Victoria today, our legislation has protected your penalty rates. The Albanese Labor government backs low-paid workers. I'm asked how this compares to other approaches. When our legislation was before the parliament, the coalition used every excuse to stand in the way of action to protect penalty rates. The shadow minister for employment did not miss an opportunity to criticise our protections of penalty rates. He claimed it does nothing for workers. Of course, this is not a new position for the shadow minister. In 2017 he voted against protecting Sunday penalty rates in the parliament. But it seems that, in the past few days, the shadow minister has had a change of heart. I noticed over the weekend that the shadow minister has a newfound love of public holidays. In fact, the shadow minister has declared on social media that, under a Wilson government, there will be a new public holiday on Melbourne Cup Day—primarily, it seems, to get him out of coming to parliament! I'm not sure if this is official Liberal Party policy, but I note it has been enthusiastically backed by Senator Hume. But I hope a policy of this nature will include protections for all workers—not just politicians, like he seems to advocate for. A word of caution, though, for workers right across Australia: workers probably shouldn't put this public holiday in their diary just yet, because, according to a recent poll, even the Independent member for Wentworth is a more preferred Liberal leader than the member for Goldstein! But you never know; he might just be a little slow to get out of the gate, and we may see a Wilson government sometime in the future. But, of course, in all seriousness, it is incredibly disappointing that we see the coalition completely talking about themselves and which days they're going to have off. Is it going to be the member for Farrer, the member for Canning, the member for Hume or even the member for Goldstein that will lead this party? It's only our Labor government that will back Aussie workers.
Parental Leave | Questions without Notice | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Lalor for the question and for her advocacy for those parents who have suffered the devastating loss of a child. Experiencing stillbirth or the death of a child...
I'd like to thank the member for Lalor for the question and for her advocacy for those parents who have suffered the devastating loss of a child. Experiencing stillbirth or the death of a child is an inconceivable tragedy, and, unfortunately for some parents, it becomes a too-real reality. The last thing any parent should have to deal with after grieving the loss of a child is the uncertainty around their employer paid parental leave. It is for those parents that our government has introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025, which passed through the House today. The bill is named after Priya, who heartbreakingly died when she was just six weeks old. Priya's mother explained that, after informing her employer her child had passed away, she lost access to her paid parental leave and had to negotiate to return to work while grieving the loss of the child. Priya's parents were determined to protect others from the same fate and began advocating for change. Our government listened, and we're making that change happen. Baby Priya's bill introduced a principle into the Fair Work Act that protects employer paid parental leave in the event a child is stillborn or dies. It brings these protections in line with government paid parental leave and unpaid leave arrangements. This bill only applies where there is a lack of clarity on an employee's leave if a child is stillborn or dies after birth. Priya's bill has sparked an outpouring of public support, like from Tammy, who wrote: 'I remember having to go back to work within six weeks after the loss of my baby daughter. I am so pleased that there has been the needed reform in this space.' While it's been heartening to see support across the parliament, it has been disappointing to see the efforts of a few who are trying to make this something that it's not. This morning, I got a message from Priya's mum, who reminded us all about what this bill is about. Priya's mum said: 'I want to sincerely thank every speaker who has supported this bill with such compassion, sensitivity and care. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has embraced and supported this legacy of love.' No parent should have to go through what Priya's parents experienced, and that is why our government has acted.
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union | Questions without Notice | House debates
Of course, our government has absolutely been committed to tackling crime and corruption in the construction industry. It was ignored for years and years by those opposite. I'll give just a few...
Of course, our government has absolutely been committed to tackling crime and corruption in the construction industry. It was ignored for years and years by those opposite. I'll give just a few examples. Under the coalition and the ABCC's watch, Michael Greenfield, Darren Greenfield, Rita Mallia and Rob Kera were found to be involved in coercion and intimidation of a Sydney crane company. What did the ABCC do? They gave them a slap on the wrist. They are gone under this government. In Victoria, in 2013, CFMEU official Derek Christopher was found to have assaulted a building manager at a site in Melbourne. Under the ABCC and those opposite, he was given a slap on the wrist. He is gone under our government. Let's look at Michael Ravbar, who was exposed by Geoffrey Watson in his investigation, which showed that in 2020 the coalition under their failed ABCC allowed him to use standover tactics including telling a female public servant that she 'should be dragged out of here'. Under those opposite, he kept his job. Under us, he is gone. If we want to talk about who is taking action, it is our government cleaning up the industry while those opposite stood by and did nothing.
I thank the shadow minister for his question. His question really goes to the role that our government has been playing in making sure that we have a construction industry that is free from...
I thank the shadow minister for his question. His question really goes to the role that our government has been playing in making sure that we have a construction industry that is free from corruption. Of course, this did not happen under those opposite, and I might give a few examples in a minute. What I will go to firstly is the National Construction Industry Forum, which is playing an incredibly important role in bringing unions, employers and government together on how we tackle this issue. Of course, I make no apologies for actually bringing people together to look at how we tackle these issues. I would invite the shadow minister to look at the taskforce report, which has been made public, and also look at the work that's being undertaken because—guess what? Employers and unions are united in what work needs to be done to make sure that our construction industry is as productive as possible. I thought I might go through some of the work that has been done under this government to actually address crime and corruption in the construction industry. I draw the House's attention firstly to a number of members—
Firstly, I thank the member for his question. I think every member of this House would have absolutely no tolerance for intimidation of journalists or, indeed, anyone in this country. I am going...
Firstly, I thank the member for his question. I think every member of this House would have absolutely no tolerance for intimidation of journalists or, indeed, anyone in this country. I am going to speak to whistleblowing for people coming forward about the CFMEU, because that does fall into my responsibilities. Not only are there protections in the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act; our government specifically built in whistleblower protections in the administration. And, of course— Well, I was asked about whistleblowers and protections for Australians, so I am answering that question. There are specific provisions in the administration that protect people coming forward. I would make one point, though. In my conversations with the administrator, the action that he is taking ensures, first and foremost, the safety of his staff. That is the seriousness with which he is undertaking his work, the safety of his staff, and of course that extends to all Australians. We take this job seriously. We are taking this with the level of attention that those opposite have not done. There is no place for violence in this country. There is no place for intimidation of anyone—journalists or any Australian worker. We are committed, as I've said on numerous occasions, to getting the job done—stamping out violence, criminality and corruption from the building industry. We are committed to doing just that.
I thank the shadow minister for his question. From the outset, I reject the assertions that were in that question. But what might help him is for me to go through some of the actions that both...
I thank the shadow minister for his question. From the outset, I reject the assertions that were in that question. But what might help him is for me to go through some of the actions that both the administrator and the regulators have taken during the 16 months that the administration has been in place. First, I would note that, as I previously said, the administrator's difficult work to date has been to remove or to accept the resignations of 60 staff, over two-thirds of whom were in leadership positions. Of course, the administrator has made it absolutely clear where the union stands on expectations of staff, and the new code of conduct has been very clear about what the consequences will be. The administration has received over 500 complaints under its anonymous whistleblowing process, and it has been working very closely with the joint agency working group that consists of the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, various police forces and other regulators in various jurisdictions. The administrator has also made specific referrals of criminal conduct to the Victorian and New South Wales police forces and referrals of contraventions of the industrial legislation to the regulatory agencies. The administration has established an integrity unit. It engages investigations and barristers to conduct inquiries into defined matters. The administration has commissioned leading independent corruption expert Geoffrey Watson to undertake multiple detailed investigations and has taken appropriate action based on those reports, referring many matters to regulators and law enforcement. In addition to the work that the administrator is taking, our regulators and law enforcement agencies are doing their job. The Fair Work Ombudsman is undertaking significant compliance and enforcement action in relation to misconduct in the construction industry by both unions and employers. As of 12 September 2025, the Fair Work Ombudsman is progressing 19 investigations in relation to multiple branches of the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU. There's Operation Rye, which was established to assess information and coordinate investigation of allegations related to the criminal offending of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, and the AFP is chair of the joint agency working group. So, quite frankly, to suggest that our government is not doing anything when it comes to crime and corruption in the building industry—I can reassure this House that we have done more in our term in government than those on the other side. We are taking this seriously. The shadow minister might want to pretend he's in university politics, throwing around accusations; meanwhile, we are the adults in the room and will continue to be so. (Time expired)
Industrial Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Of course, if she had been following the debate as to why we were putting the CFMEU into administration, she would know that the strongest...
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Of course, if she had been following the debate as to why we were putting the CFMEU into administration, she would know that the strongest possible action you can take, in terms of transparency and ensuring that there is accountability, is to put the CFMEU into administration. We compare that to what the coalition did, which was stand up an ABCC which really was a toothless tiger. If we look at some of the incidents and allegations that are being exposed at the moment—they happened under the ABCC and, indeed, the coalition's watch. We on this side of the House are taking this issue of stamping out corruption in the construction industry with the seriousness and the dedication it deserves. It is about getting the regulators to work together. It is about getting the police to work together. It is about an administration that is so transparent it reports twice to the parliament every single year. It appoints investigations and tables those investigations or puts them on its website. It puts its financial records out for the world to see. This is the type of transparency we need. If those opposite think this is an easy task then they are naive. It has been demonstrated by the shadow minister, who today made some absolutely baseless claims about the administrator—a barrister with the standing of Mark Irving. It was absolutely a disgrace. While they on the other side might want to play politics with this issue, we take it seriously. We want to see a construction industry free from corruption. We are dedicated to the task and we will work until that task is done.
I'd like to thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I want to make a statement really clearly: the government has absolutely no tolerance for criminal conduct or misbehaviour in the...
I'd like to thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I want to make a statement really clearly: the government has absolutely no tolerance for criminal conduct or misbehaviour in the building industry. That is why our government took the strongest possible action to put the CFMEU into administration. This is very difficult work. I have spoken with the administrator on numerous occasions about just how difficult this work is, and he is absolutely committed to cleaning out this union. I want to go through some of the work he has already been doing. He has taken significant steps to either remove or accept the resignation of over 60 staff, over two-thirds of whom were in leadership positions or organisers. He has developed a national code of conduct and a statement of expectations for all staff. He's made it absolutely clear where the union stands when it comes to gifts, organised crime, menacing behaviour and what the consequence will be. He has received more than 500 complaints through the anonymous whistleblowing website, which triages complaints, some of which are dealt with internally and many of which are referred to authorities. He is working with the joint agency working group that consists of the AFP, the Fair Work Commission and police forces across all jurisdictions. And he is doing his job. He is working very hard and has achieved more in 16 months than the ABCC did in the whole time it was— (Time expired)
Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The loss of a child is a tragedy. Parents shouldn't have to deal with the uncertainty about their employer-funded paid parental leave...
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The loss of a child is a tragedy. Parents shouldn't have to deal with the uncertainty about their employer-funded paid parental leave entitlements on top of that grief. This bill will ensure that there is greater clarity regarding employer-funded paid parental leave for parents dealing with the tragedy of a stillborn or death of a child. By providing this certainty, we hope to take some of the stress away from parents during an inconceivably difficult time. This bill is named after Baby Priya—who died when she was just six weeks old. And I wanted to acknowledge Baby Priya's mum and dad and grandparents in the gallery today. We thank you for your bravery, your advocacy and your passion to make sure that this happens to no other parent—of what you went through. Parents should have the certainty and time to grieve after the loss of a child. Their pain should not be compounded by uncertainty about whether or not they have to go back to work while they're recovering not only from the immense grief and trauma, but from childbirth itself, and the physical toll it takes on the body. They deserve the clarity about the impacts of such a tragic event on their financial position, providing one source of certainty as they cope with the loss of the future they had imagined with their child. Baby Priya's parents did not have that clarity or certainty and no parent should ever have to go through what they did. We know these are incredibly difficult circumstances for workers and managers to navigate. Being able to work through such circumstances in a dignified and humane way depends on there being shared expectations by employers and employees about how these tragic situations are managed. As a government, we share this belief, and that is why we've acted to provide certainty in these circumstances. The bill introduces a new principle into the Fair Work Act. Unless employers and employees have expressly agreed otherwise, employer funded paid parental leave must not be cancelled because a child is stillborn or dies. Parents should be able to rely on their employer funded paid parental leave entitlements operating in a way that they would have expected on the basis of their terms of employment, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy or birth. This bill ensures that. The clarity this bill provides aligns with the clarity provided in existing unpaid parental leave entitlements, ensuring consistency across the workplace relations framework. It will not interfere when employers and employees bargain and agree conditions in good faith. The ability to bargain for pay and conditions above the safety net is central to our approach to workplace relations. It leads to mutually beneficial conditions for employers and employees and builds a constructive dialogue. As such, this bill will not interfere where it is clear that employers and employees have agreed what should occur if a child is stillborn or dies. For example, I'm aware that many employers offer express stillbirth leave entitlements, and this reform will not interfere with those entitlements. Instead, it encourages employers and employees to continue negotiating clear, compassionate policies that address these situations. As a government, we recognise the benefits of paid parental leave. It encourages parents to retain a connection to the workforce. It also offers a wealth of benefits for employers—including better staff retention and the ability to attract a talented workforce. In recognition of these benefits, we have acted to strengthen the government's funded paid parental leave so parents now receive 24 weeks of government paid parental leave including superannuation contributions. This bill does not introduce any requirement to provide employer funded paid parental leave if it's not already provided. I would like to thank those employer representatives who have reached out to me to support this important reform. The loss of a child is devastating. It has profound and long-lasting impacts on parents, families and communities. Australia is one of the safest places in the world for a baby to be born. But, tragically, stillbirths and child loss do happen. On an average day in Australia, more than six babies are stillborn and more than two die within the first year of their birth. In 2022, this resulted in over 3,000 families losing a child. This bill addresses a gap that some parents of these babies have fallen through. It gives employees and employers alike certainty in these tragic and emotional circumstances. It ensures managers do not have to make discretionary calls on whether a leave provision applies in difficult circumstances. It makes it easier to handle difficult situations in the most sensitive of times. This reform is vital. It protects employer funded paid parental leave entitlements at one of the most difficult times a parent can face. In conclusion, I did want to again commend Priya's mum and dad for their advocacy and their hope to prevent parents in similar situations ever having to experience what they did in the future. They are making a difference to people's lives, and I would like to sincerely thank them and, of course, acknowledge Baby Priya as well. She made a profound impact on the lives of so many, and her impact will continue to be felt into the future. Once again, I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.
Employment | Questions without Notice | House debates
RISHWORTH (—) (): I thank the member for Leichhardt for that question and for his longstanding advocacy for working people in Far North Queensland. Isn't it great to have him join this side...
RISHWORTH (—) (): I thank the member for Leichhardt for that question and for his longstanding advocacy for working people in Far North Queensland. Isn't it great to have him join this side of the House? The Albanese Labor government went to the election with a commitment to protect penalty and overtime rates, and we are delivering. We made this commitment because there were cases under way at the Fair Work Commission that would allow, if successful, these entitlements to be stripped away from some of our lowest-paid workers. As a government, we will always back Aussie workers, including our low-paid workers, and, as a government, we refuse to sit by and see workers lose this critical part of their take-home pay. Penalty and overtime rates matter. They are a longstanding feature and a vital part of the modern award safety net. The modern award safety net supports some of our lowest-paid workers. Workers who rely on penalty and overtime rates are more likely to be women, work part-time, be under the age of 35 and be employed on a casual basis. Retail worker Emily, who was expecting her first baby, said to me that penalty rates give her the room to be able to save for her little bubba and to help her move to make sure that her new family has a roof over its head. It's for workers like Emily and many others who rely on penalty and overtime rates that we made this commitment. I am proud that in the first three weeks of this term of the new parliament, we passed our law to protect penalty rates as a priority. Since we delivered these protections to penalty and overtime rates, I have met with many, many workers who say they can sleep more soundly at night because they know their penalty rates are protected. I met with Cassidy, who works in retail. She told me that she now feels confident that her penalty rates and overtime won't be taken away. These protections build on our record of delivering better outcomes for working Australians. Our government has delivered reforms that have boosted wages, have closed the gender pay gap and are creating more jobs. We're now seeing real wages grow, with real wages growing for seven consecutive quarters. More than 1.1 million jobs have been created under this government's watch, and we continue to experience historic record-low unemployment. Of course, the gender pay gap is at a record low. As a government, we will continue to focus on delivering for Australians and working Australians, because that's what Labor governments do.
I'd like to thank the fabulous member for Deakin for his question. It was wonderful recently to visit with him essential workers in Eastland, where we got to hear about how important the...
I'd like to thank the fabulous member for Deakin for his question. It was wonderful recently to visit with him essential workers in Eastland, where we got to hear about how important the government's policies are to them. Of course, the Albanese Labor government was elected on a commitment to get wages moving after a decade of deliberate wage suppression under those opposite. We have delivered significant changes to our workplace laws to deliver on our commitment to get wages moving. Our Secure Jobs, Better Pay changes have reinvigorated enterprise bargaining and put gender equality at the heart of our workplace laws. Of course, these changes are seeing more workers than ever before be covered by enterprise agreements, delivering real wage increases. The gender pay gap is now at a record low of 11.5 per cent, and working women are earning on average an additional $250 a week. Our Closing Loopholes changes have stopped the underpayment of labour-hire workers, and many are earning thousands of dollars more. We've delivered on our commitment to make a submission to the Fair Work Commission for a real wage increase for almost three million workers who rely on minimum award wages. And we've made a submission every single year since we've been in government. When this commitment was first made by our Prime Minister while in opposition, those opposite labelled it reckless. Well, this side of parliament does not view backing Aussie workers as reckless. Now, the lowest-paid workers on minimum wages are earning more than $175 per week on average more than when we came to government. Our government has also acted to protect award-reliant workers when they were faced with a real chance of losing their penalty rates. This, of course, is in clear contrast to the coalition, who, when in government, stood by and did nothing to protect penalty rates when they were taken away in 2017. Our government is committed to getting wages moving. We have recorded the strongest annual real wages growth in five years, and real wages have been growing for seven consecutive quarters. Since coming to government, Aussie workers are benefiting from an average of an additional $9,000 per year in their pay packets. This Labor government is delivering for working people. We're delivering to get wages moving and making sure Aussies are earning more.
Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
It is an absolute honour to have been sworn in as the member for Kingston in the 48th Parliament, my seventh time having this privilege. I continue to be absolutely grateful for and humbled by...
It is an absolute honour to have been sworn in as the member for Kingston in the 48th Parliament, my seventh time having this privilege. I continue to be absolutely grateful for and humbled by the confidence that my local community has placed in me to represent them in this place. I continue to be deeply committed to listening to the views and priorities of my community and making sure that they have a voice in this place. I'm a bit biased here, but the southern suburbs of Adelaide are the most beautiful place in the world to live. They have some beautiful coastline that is experiencing some challenges at the moment, but that doesn't take away from the absolute beauty of the coastline, of course, and the many, many open spaces that we have. But, ultimately, what makes our community strong is its people—people from all walks of life, raising families out in the areas further flung from the CBD and contributing to community, whether that's through the local Lions, Rotary or Kiwanis; the local CFS; the local coastguard association; the surf lifesaving clubs; or the sporting clubs, such as football clubs and netball clubs. I am astounded, every weekend and during the week when I get away from Canberra, to go around and visit some of those clubs and organisations and think about the volunteering that is put into this—ordinary people doing, I think, extraordinary things to serve the community. So I want to say that I really always admire and am humbled by the effort and work that people put in. Of course, in my electorate people work very hard. They work very hard to put a roof over their heads and give their children and their grandchildren the best opportunities. For my electorate, making sure that in this most recent election we looked to the future was critically important. It's pretty clear across the country that Australians have chosen to build Australia's future. They voted for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all and the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need. This was very important in the election. I think also that, for me and my electorate, people really wanted to connect. I have to say that over my time in parliament it has been absolutely amazing, and I feel so privileged that so many people have invited me into their lives, whether it's through doorknocking, at street corner meetings or by coming into my office. They have trusted me and my office to be brought into their lives. Whether they're seeking assistance, giving me some good advice—which happens on a pretty regular basis—or having a genuine conversation, I feel really honoured that so many people have brought me into their lives and told me of their aspirations. This election was no different. People's aspiration to support their community, to give their kids a better life than they perhaps had and to make sure that they can just get on with life and look after others was really profound. I would like to particularly acknowledge all the members from South Australia and congratulate everyone on their election to this place. I think it's true—hopefully it's true—to say that at times South Australia bats above its weight. I think we are very blessed to have a new member for Sturt join us as well as a new senator in Senator Charlotte Walker. They join other representatives from South Australia: the member for Boothby, the member for Adelaide, the member for Hindmarsh, the member for Makin and the member for Spence. They join the Labor team and make up the Labor caucus. I acknowledge and congratulate the member for Barker, who is in the chamber; the new member for Grey; and the member for Mayo for their re-election as well. I know that, each in our way, we will fiercely fight for South Australia and for the communities that we represent. I want to reflect on the fact that this government was re-elected on a very clear vision for the future building on what we started in our first term of government. I think that everyone—certainly me—decided to enter into politics to ensure that everyone could reach their full potential, that we could as government allow everyone to try and reach their full potential, that we could put the supports in place to ensure everyone got that enabling opportunity, whether that was education or healthcare, to allow them to really do the best they can. I think that really is a critical motivation. Therefore, I'm really proud that, in our first term of government, particularly in my role as Minister for Social Services, we were able to do some really important work to ensure that we did better for people. I would particularly like to say that the reform we did in disability employment services, which will now come into effect as Inclusive Employment Australia, is a really important reform to ensure that people with disability do get the opportunity for economic empowerment to get a job and to make sure that the service system was not trying to make them change but responded to their individual needs to make sure they were working with employers to deliver better outcomes. I heard over and over again from people with disability that they did want the opportunity but no-one was giving them that chance. I'm very proud of the disability reform we did. There was also our National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. That was work we put in to make sure we could really have a common anchor to guide us all. The document itself drives Commonwealth investments and state and territory investment and really gives us a framework in which we can end violence against women and children. We've got a long way to go, and I remain absolutely committed to that goal along with, I'm sure, everyone across the parliament. Of course, we expanded and strengthened paid parental leave, paying superannuation on it for the first time. We boosted social safety increases, including JobSeeker, the single parenting payment and Commonwealth rent assistance. They were some—I can't go into all—of the work that we did, and I would like to thank all of my ministerial staff, who worked so diligently on ensuring that we could get the best for people. They really were passionate and believed in what we were doing, and I'd like to thank them very much. Now in this new term, I am absolutely honoured to have been appointed Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Of course, part of this work continues some of the work that I did in social services to make sure that Australians have the opportunity to obtain and retain a well-paid job. I think it is really critical to acknowledge the work that was done by the now minister for home affairs and Senator Watt for the work that they did in laying a very strong foundation to get wages moving in this country and to work on secure jobs. Some of the work that has been done, that we will continue working on, is a world first in minimum standards for employee-like work. Other countries are looking to us. We have set a pathway to make sure gig economy workers actually get a minimum standards safety net. I think that's really important. We will continue to deliver in this portfolio on our election commitments to workplace relations. But also, importantly, there will be new challenges coming at us. There is, for example, artificial intelligence and its opportunities but also its challenges that we must grapple with. So I think there is still a lot of work to be done. For me, getting back to what the election was fought on, there was a very clear message from my electorate. They wanted us to talk about things that would make a practical difference to their lives, whether that was a tax cut for every taxpayer, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines or a cut to student debt. I heard over and over from young people, and also older people who still had a debt, about just how important that student debt policy was. I did want to talk about free TAFE, in particular, though. In my electorate, further out in the suburbs, the Noarlunga TAFE campus had become a little less populated and not as vibrant as it had been. That was until free TAFE came along. What free TAFE has done was not only unlocked the opportunity for so many people to either train for the first time or retrain but unlocked the ability to do so close to home at Noarlunga TAFE. I visited there, and, in areas where construction had been done and which had been vacant for a long time, I saw students training there again. It is so heartening to hear stories as we see more and more students attracted back to that TAFE campus, getting the opportunity for the first time. Making sure that opportunity is close to home is so critically important. In addition, I did want to talk about health care. Health care is so important. Ensuring you are able to access a universal healthcare system is something I think our country can be very proud of. It's something I actually spoke about in my first speech in this place. The healthcare commitments we've made, particularly in this election, will have a big impact on my electorate, whether that's the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive, which will encourage many more doctors to bulk-bill; the extra funding for our very busy urgent care clinic at Morphett Vale—and a shout-out to everyone who works there; this urgent care clinic is doing amazing work—or the commitment to a walk-in mental health urgent care clinic in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. We know there are times when people are quite distressed emotionally and feeling like they need some support right there and then, and a walk-in Medicare mental health clinic will do just that. I did want to use the remaining time I had to say some thankyous. There have been a lot of people who have worked very hard, including my ministerial office who worked through the last term and was headed up by Owen Torpy. He's decided to look for other opportunities now, but I couldn't have done what I did in that last term without his absolute commitment. We really were a team, and I really appreciate everything that they did. I had a huge campaign team, who gave up their weekends and weeknights and were really committed to seeing me get re-elected. So thank you to Noah Beckham, Lily Waltham, Lachie Byrne, Lorraine Christalee, Oliver Shepherd-Bailey and Saxa McDonald. We had over 300 volunteers who came out, packed shopping centre bags and worked on prepolling days. But I did want to particularly give a shout-out to Kylie and Alistair Douglas, Jono Gauci, Jim Phillips, Chrissy Slater, Sally Hand, John Naylor, Bill and Maxine Watson, Naomi Piper, Bridie Ward, Georgina Walk and Jess Zilly—all did a huge amount of work. I would like to give a big shout-out to the many who, in addition to supporting me as minister, helped in my campaign: Lanai Scarr, Phil Nigg, Kate Coleman, Jaimee Hunt, Kirsty Johnson, Leesa Markussen, Jack Loader, Drina Velidka, Marie Goodnick, Ruth Albertson Kill, Rosie Lenty, Genevieve Scarf, Jordon O'Reilly and Louis Gordon. They worked incredibly hard over the last term, and I am very grateful to them. I am also incredibly appreciative of my electorate staff. Electorate staff do, and I hear this over and over again, make an enormous difference. While I feel privileged to be let into people's lives, they are also let into people's lives, but they have to really spend a lot of time helping and assisting, and they make a difference every single day. They do change lives, and I think sometimes they're not recognised for that. To Angela Duigan, James Carter, Emma Kane, Lucy Nguyen and Eloise Atterton, a really, really big thank you. I also wanted to shout out Jordon O'Reilly, who's actually here today and who was my campaign manager. He has been with me for a while. He's been absolutely dedicated and, with his leadership, he was able to put together such a strong campaign in a seat where there's not always the same attention as sometimes there is on a marginal seat. We were able to mount a really grassroots campaign. Jordon, your attention, your engagement with people and your commitment and loyalty to both the campaign and myself are desperately appreciated. I'd like to thank you very much for the work you've done for a long time for me, but also of course in the campaign. I would like to acknowledge the many members of parliament outside of South Australia—though obviously South Australians comes first—including the many, many new members and members returning to this place. I particularly wanted to reflect on the new Labor caucus. I had the privilege of starting to get to know many of the new Labor caucus before the election, as I visited their seats, and since the election. I feel so privileged to be working alongside so many of these new members. The acumen, the intelligence, the policy, the thoughtfulness, the energy—it is unbelievable. I feel so lucky that, for the next three years, I'll be working alongside so many talented people. And the diversity! From all walks of life, this is one of the most multicultural caucuses and governments ever. With women and men from all walks of life, it's an absolute privilege to be part of this new Labor government. I'd also like to acknowledge the leadership of Aemon Bourke, the state secretary in South Australia, who ran a great campaign in South Australia. I of course acknowledge Paul Erickson as well at the national secretariat. I would also like to particularly acknowledge the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, through his leadership, really defined what it meant to be optimistic, to look to the future, to address people's concerns in a practical way and to also have an eye on the horizon. I'd just like to acknowledge and thank him for his leadership. Equally, I'd like to recognise our premier, Peter Malinauskas. Peter and the Prime Minister have worked incredibly well together, and nothing better represents that than the decision to keep the Whyalla steelworks going. This was a significant decision and an example of the power of government and of the important role that government can play but also of the importance of partnership between the Premier of South Australia and our prime minister. It was brave to keep Whyalla steelworks going, not only because of the jobs it actually saves and the communities that it supports but also because of the sovereign capability that Whyalla brings to this country, and I would like to commend both the Prime Minister and the Premier for that. I give a big thankyou to a number of union members, including Josh Peak, Jordan Mumford, Nick Townsend, Jason Hall, Sam McIntosh and the broad labour movement. Of course, I'd better get in my husband, Tim, and Oscar and Percy. I couldn't do it without you.