Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Fairness at work, dignity in pay, and respect for young workers—I'd like to take the opportunity to congratulate the SDA on the hard fought campaign to ensure that 18- to 20-year-olds are paid the same money for doing the same job as their co-workers who are 21 and over. This reform is simple. It is fair, and it is long overdue. If you're doing the same work, carrying the same responsibilities and meeting the same expectations, you deserve the same pay. Age should not ever come into the equation. It's no excuse for lowering wages, lowering respect and lowering standards.

Before going further, I wanted to acknowledge the work of the SDA in my home state of Tasmania, including that of the current state secretary, Joel Tynan, and the long-serving former state secretary Paul Griffin OAM, whose leadership, advocacy and commitment have helped deliver better pay and fairer conditions for the next generation of Tasmanians.

In my home state of Tasmania, young people make up a significant part of the workforce in these sectors. They keep shops open, businesses running and communities functioning. The relentless campaigning of the SDA has ensured that young people are respected and they get paid for the same work as their co-workers who are considered to be adults. This is better for the country. It's certainly better for my home state. As Labor colleagues here will know—