Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

We can lead on these things—and I will take Senator Ruston's interjection. It's not your fault? Well, it is your fault if you don't do something about it. We've had people in here talking about domestic violence. We've talked about violence against women. If it's happening in our shops, we need people to stand up with regard to it. We'll be waiting a long time before this government even thinks that is their job, let alone determines to do something.

Whilst the Turnbull government fights to cut taxes for millionaires and big business, it's left to Labor and the unions to defend penalty rates. The Labor Party believes that penalty rates remain a fundamental part of a strong safety net for Australian workers. They allow low-income workers and those working in casual employment to have a decent wage. Employer associations have for years been trying to abolish weekend and penalty rates for low-paid workers. Each time they've done that, standing in the way of their attacks on fairness, standing up for workers, were unions such as the SDA. In the last two years alone, the SDA union has, sadly, had to spend over $2 million on legal fees and on expert witnesses, reports and other ancillary costs related to the Fair Work Commission penalty rates case.

We had people in this place and the other place talking a big game in terms of how they were going to take on the banks, going to do the right thing by Australians. The member for Dawson was going to stand up for the working people and make sure that Australians got their penalty rates. And what did we see? He rolled over in his gear, with his whip, and he had his tummy tickled. He did nothing. He walked away. In fact, this week he has actually declared himself to have told lies. Fancy that! Fancy telling lies to the media of Australia. But, worst of all, he has lied to the people who believed that he was going to stand up for their penalty rates. Even the ones who say that they are going to stand up for the penalty rates on the other side, even the Nationals—who I definitely have a bit more time for than the Liberal Party with regard to this—have let ordinary working Australians down.

That's why the work of the SDA is so important. There's a huge investment of union funds in resources and money to make sure that the good work that needs to be done to support workers and protect their interests is actually undertaken. The SDA is certainly investing in looking after working men and women in places like Coles and Woolworths. Why? Because they understand that hardworking Australians cannot afford a pay cut and they don't deserve one either. The individuals working on weekends are giving up valuable time with their families—their parents, their children—and other loved ones to ensure that they can put food on the table and a decent roof over their heads. The opportunity cost of working is significantly higher on those who work on weekends. It's curious that those opposite, who continue to talk about the value of family and community, do not see weekends as different to weekdays. Kristina Keneally, running for the Labor Party in the seat of Bennelong, is a person who can bring fairness and equity to this place. I urge people in the seat of Bennelong to give her their support on 16 December. (Time expired)