Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let's just have a think about this: Do people deserve fair wages? Do they deserve fair conditions? Should the low-wage workforce in this country get a fair go? You'd think the answer to that would be yes for everyone, but, unfortunately, for the Liberals and Nationals it's always been a no. Just take a look at what's happening with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, or the SDA, and McDonald's in South Australia. Earlier this month, the Fair Work Commission ruled that 5,000 McDonald's employees in South Australia will now have the right to bargain together for better pay and conditions. These are young, casual, low-paid workers, some in their very first jobs, and now they finally have a voice—all because the Albanese Labor government supported multi-employer bargaining laws. The SDA is now moving to extend that right across the country to 115,000 McDonald's staff nationwide who have been stuck on award minimums for years.

Why does this matter? Because these are the exact same laws the Liberals and Nationals voted against. Whenever it comes to lifting wages or improving people's lives, they oppose it. Just listen to what their frontbenchers have said. On 24 March 2024, Barnaby Joyce said on Sunrise that Labor's $110 dollar a week minimum wage rise was window dressing. On 11 November 2022, Angus Taylor told Sky News that he opposed multi-employer bargaining because it pushes up wages. On 3 December 2024, Michaelia Cash called Labor reforms 'disastrous'. On 24 September 2024, Sussan Ley warned of radical industrial relations changes. Meanwhile, the workforce wants a better deal. Labor is backing Australians who want a fair go.