Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Ciccone, Polley, Farrell, O'Neill and Marielle Smith, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that members of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in the retail and fast food sectors have been at the forefront of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic;

(b) acknowledges that retail and fast food workers have:

  (i) suffered abusive behaviour from customers,

  (ii) put themselves at risk of infection just by turning up to work,

  (iii) worked inordinate hours to help provide the basic goods that Australians need to survive, and

  (iv) had their penalty rates cut by the Fair Work Commission despite their efforts;

(c) notes that:

  (i) retail workers have proven themselves truly essential during this year of disasters,

  (ii) the SDA union worked hard with the retail industry to have the 'SDA 10 Point COVID Safety Plan' implemented as an industry benchmark, and

  (iii) the SDA union worked tirelessly to promote the need for up to 14 days special paid pandemic leave for all employees – this industry wide claim was adopted in full or in part by numerous retailers; and

(d) congratulates the SDA union on securing an appropriate and well-deserved recognition payment for its thousands of members at a range of retail employers.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Workers are doing—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, I just have a point of order from Senator Ruston.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just seeking as to whether the senator is intending to vote against the submission, because I thought the reason that you make a statement is to vote against the submission.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave has been granted. You have posed a question. It's up to the senator to speak for the minute for which she's been granted leave.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens support this motion. Workers are doing it tough in the crisis. Retail and fast food workers have had to deal with precarious work, poor conditions, no job security and low pay for too long. One of the lessons of this pandemic has been to drive home the importance of retail and fast food workers and how massively they contribute to our day-to-day lives.

The retail and fast food workers union and the Australian Unemployed Workers Union have advocated fiercely for their members and workers throughout this crisis, and they have been strong, staunch voices for people who have been left behind by this cruel government. We need to make sure that all workers have the security and support they need to make it through this pandemic with dignity. Congratulations to our unions for their advocacy and activism throughout this crisis.

Question agreed to.