Barbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) | Hansard source

Australians love their cruise ship holidays, but many would be shocked by the conditions of workers on board a lot of the boats they're on. This week I met with Christina and Queen, two former Carnival Cruise ship workers. They came to parliament to shed light on working conditions in Carnival's toxic workplaces. They told me about their poor working conditions; their exploitative wages; their extremely long hours; how many of the crew are paid as little as $2.50 an hour, which is the worst in the industry; how workers are doing 12-hour days with no weekends or leave; how workers are eating recycled food and getting sick; and how they have to buy and ration just two bottles of water a day each.

When workers raise these issues, there is a culture of suppression, demotion and retribution. Many crew members are scared of retaliation if they speak openly to the union or engage in any form of collective activity. This is a huge problem, and Labor can't let this keep happening. This is the biggest cruise ship company in the world. Carnival can afford to pay these workers a liveable wage. You cannot build a luxury industry on fear and poverty. Carnival crew have had enough. It's time to end the extreme exploitation of workers on these ships. It's time for them to pay a fair share of tax in Australia. Carnival need to enter into collective bargaining negotiations and stop discouraging workers from standing up for their rights. The government and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority need to enforce these workers' rights to collective bargaining and give them the basic dignity, respect and working conditions that they deserve so that Australians can enjoy their cruise ship holidays without worrying about the conditions, the pay and the long hours of all of those who are looking after them. (Time expired)