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

If you're an elected representative in this parliament, the public deserves to know what you stand for. I'm for better wages and better working conditions, whether you be an employee or a contractor.

It's very clear what those opposite stand for. The Liberals are for low pay and the Nationals are for low pay. They show us each and every day that they're for low pay. They showed us they were for low pay when they turned around and cut penalty rates. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to a fair increase to the minimum wage. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to same job same pay. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to gig workers' rights. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to multi-employer bargaining. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to criminalising wage theft. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to banning pay secrecy clauses. They show us they're for low pay when they say no to banning ads for jobs below the minimum wage. The deputy opposition leader said that fixing those issues was 'terrible'. When was the last time you saw the Liberals or Nationals stand up for your rights at work? Never. But those opposite can still prove me wrong. Later this year, there'll be an opportunity to help some of the most disadvantaged and re-empower Australian workers in their workplace. The Liberals and Nationals can vote for it and they can help us rebuild the middle class that they smashed over the last 10 years, or they could continue being Liberal and Nationals for low pay.