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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Mr Watt. Cost-of-living pressures are top of mind for all Australians, especially low-paid workers. I note that, since taking office, the Albanese Labor government has advocated on behalf of low-paid workers in three consecutive Fair Work Commission annual wage reviews. How does the Albanese Labor government's agenda ease cost-of-living pressures and make sure Australians are earning more and keeping more of what they earn?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon. Isn't it good that at least one senator on this side of the chamber has an interest in cost of living issues? Over this entire question time, what have the coalition asked about?

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Middle East? Terrorists and things?

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Order!

Senator Cash, I've called order three times. Senator Scarr?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I ask Senator Watt to withdraw that personal reflection on all the other senators except for one.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, when I'm bringing the chamber to order—

Senator McKenzie! It's not helpful for you to stand and make a joke. Seriously, it is not. Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

I know the opposition doesn't want to talk about cost-of-living issues, but I'm glad that Senator Sheldon joins with Senator Smith and Senator Walsh in asking questions about the issues that are of most concern to Australians today, which are cost-of-living issues. It seems that the opposition has to ask a question about anything else other than the thing Australians are most concerned about, their cost-of-living issues. We know why that is, and it is because the coalition's record in office is one of delivering lower wages and a worse standard of living, a record they have maintained in opposition.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Order! Thank you, Minister Watt. Please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's interesting that Senator Cash is a lot more noisy when she's sitting in that chair rather than when she's sitting in the one about a metre behind. Why would that be, Senator Cash?

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. I'll come to you, Senator McKenzie.

Senator Cash! Minister Watt, may I remind you to direct your comments to the chair. Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I was also going to request that, instead of pointing across the chamber and screaming, he make his comments through the chair.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! As you noted, Senator McKenzie, I had already brought that to the minister's attention. I'm waiting for order.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I'm sure you can observe the opposition is a bit touchy today. Why would they be touchy? Because today is the day that Australians are getting much-needed cost-of-living relief. We know the opposition are touchy about this because they voted against almost every one of those cost-of-living measures that come into place today. So no wonder they're touchy. No wonder they don't want to talk about cost of living. But do you know what? Labor does, because we're concerned about the cost-of-living issues facing Australians. That's why from today every Australian taxpayer gets a tax cut, not just some; that's why from today our $300 energy bill relief begins to flow to every Australian household; and that's why from today 2.6 million low-paid workers will get their third consecutive pay rise, backed by this government, unlike what we saw from the coalition. This government has gone into bat for low-paid workers not once, not twice but three times—every single year we've been in office since we came into government. Because of this government's advocacy, from today minimum wage earners will be earning $24.10 per hour, compared to $20 when we first came to office. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

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

Given that Mr Dutton and the Liberals and Nationals voted against all our legislation to get wages moving, how is the Albanese Labor government secure jobs, better pay legislation getting wages moving after 10 years of deliberate wage suppression by the coalition?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon. Well, the Albanese Labor government's secure jobs, better pay legislation is delivering, with nearly half a million more workers covered by enterprise agreements and award workers benefiting from $10,000 pay rises. We said that our secure jobs, better pay laws would fix the bargaining system, and now we're seeing the proof. We know the opposition went running for cover when we simply tabled that legislation: 'Secure jobs, better pay? Oh, no. We can't have that in Australia. We're going to vote against it, just as we're going to vote against energy bill relief, just as we're going to vote against cheaper medicines and just as we're going to vote against every other measure that the Labor government put up to assist Australians with their cost of living.'

More importantly than listening to anyone in this chamber, let's listen to the difference that these changes are making to real workers in Australia. For Laura, an aged-care worker from Western Australia who will now be about $3,400 better off, it means she can pay for home internet and what she describes as 'luxuries' like social outings. Labor is supporting people like Laura while you're voting against them. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

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

In the face of cost-of-living pressures, I note that the Liberals and Nationals have endorsed a risky industrial relations policy and an expensive energy policy that won't deliver a thing for two decades. How are the Albanese government's reforms helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn while relieving cost-of-living pressures, and why are these reforms so important?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'm not calling the minister until there is silence.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon. The Albanese Labor government does care about the cost of living, and that's why it's our No. 1 focus—not in one year, not in two years, not in three years, not in four years or even in 20 years, when your nuclear fantasy will deliver more expensive power to Australians. We're delivering cost-of-living support right now, from today.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Wong, on a point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Acting Leader of the Opposition could perhaps at least draw breath and not yell for the entirety of the answer.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think Murray needs your protection.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

He doesn't; that's true. But you need some—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators Wong and Cash! Senator Cash, I would like you and those noisy senators—I think they know who they are; the ones I've called today—to listen in respectful silence.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Link to this | Hansard source

We make no apologies, as a Labor government, for wanting to deliver higher wages and real tax relief. Meanwhile, what we know about the coalition is that the shadow Treasurer, Angus Taylor, has said that he's committed to a targeted package of repeals to our workplace relations changes. We know that Senator Cash, as the shadow IR spokesperson, has endorsed the risky New South Wales Liberals' industrial relations platform. We know Senator Cash used to say that our policies would be taking Australia back to the Dark Ages. Senator Cash prefers simpler times when children were chimney sweeps and we had dark, satanic mills. That's the kind of time Senator Cash wants to take us to, and we're going to stop you from doing it.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'm waiting for order. Senators on my left, you've got one of your own senators on her feet.