Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, chair. Junior rates for 18-year-old staff reduced from 70 to 67 per cent and removal of paid rest breaks for four-hour shifts. How is that looking after workers?

The SDA has alleged these losses are offset by an increase in the base rate of pay and other benefits, such as Defence reserve leave and blood donor leave. We now know that's not the case. Clearly a six per cent increase in the base wage does not offset a 25 per cent, 50 per cent or higher loss penalty rate. We know that even 11 per cent or higher does not offset lost penalty shift, casual, overtime and junior rates.

The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union have claimed that a huge number of workers, hundreds of thousands of workers, have earned less than they would have earned had there been no SDA agreement in place. This affects almost every major retailer and fast food company in Australia. It has cost retail and fast food workers billions of dollars. How is this looking after the workforce?

Turning back to the TPP, I'd like to quote the ETU National Secretary, Allen Hicks, who said:

The TPP is all about looking after the big end of town, maximising profits for multinational corporations at the expense of what is best for the Australian public.

These big businesses will be able to bring temporary workers into the country without even advertising those jobs locally, taking away training and employment opportunities for young Australians.

How is this looking after Australian workers?