Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It would be remiss of me if I did not recognise the huge amount of work that Senator Collins has put into the government's work in this regard, and I congratulate her and thank her for that. It is true that the funding arrangements in this sector are incredibly complex. The Commonwealth does not actually employ anyone directly covered by the claim, and the funding is provided by the private and not-for-profit providers as well as Commonwealth, state and territory governments. That means that all of us are going to have to contribute to pay our share to fund these pay increases if successfully awarded. We have come up with our $2 billion to make it happen, and obviously state and territory governments are going to have to come on board as well. But I know many of them have already made commitments. I have spoken to many of the premiers and territory leaders in the last day, and I think most of them will come to the party and recognise that they have got to make a contribution to ensuring that we do deliver wage justice for these female workers. (Time expired)