Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

Family First agrees that the government’s workplace changes have had a negative impact on some Australian families. That is exactly why Family First voted against the changes that were introduced in July 2005. Family First did not need a New South Wales election to tell us what was going on. The polls were saying before the election that it was the No. 1 issue, and Family First predicted that the workplace changes would have a negative impact on some Australian families.

But Family First intends to do more than just talk about the problems. Family First is actually going to do something. Family First is introducing a private senator’s bill to protect families, and we look forward to the support of both the coalition and the Labor Party for our legislation.

Back when Work Choices was passed, Family First took a different position to the government. The government saw workplace relations as part of economic policy. Family First saw it as part of family policy. Family First voted against the changes because they undermined family life by forcing workers to fight for what was previously guaranteed: their public holidays, meal breaks, penalty rates and overtime. People in Australia today can work on a public holiday and legally not have to be paid a cent more and legally not have to be given a day off in lieu. That is un-Australian. We can improve this flawed legislation and make life better and fairer. The government says that there are no problems. The opposition says wait until the election. Family First says let us do something now; let us get on with it and fix this legislation by giving back to Australian workers and their families what they have previously been guaranteed.