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

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Going into Christmas, cost-of-living pressures are front of mind for all Australians as they budget for gifts and plan their festive meals. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn this festive season?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. With now one month, exactly, until Christmas, many Australians are turning their minds to their Christmas budgets—presents for the kids, travel costs to see loved ones, a Christmas ham, maybe even a few prawns for lunch—and the costs of getting together for Christmas can certainly add up. We understand that this Christmas will be tough for many Australians, even after the cost-of-living relief our government has provided and even after all of that was opposed by the opposition. Our government's economic plan is all about helping people with their cost of living, while fighting inflation.

Just as we're focusing on bringing costs down, we've also worked hard to get wages up. I'm pleased to say that, ahead of the final pay cycles of the year, before the festive shopping season officially begins, Australians' wages are again higher due to strong action taken by the Albanese government. New figures show that this festive season the average Australian is now earning a six-figure salary, at more than $103,000—an increase of $8,372 per year, or $159 per week, since the election of the Albanese government.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm surprised to hear the opposition so unhappy that Australians are earning higher wages, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because you've always opposed higher wages—and it would seem that you still do.

Along with delivering a tax cut for every Australian worker, the Albanese government has changed the law on a range of issues that were stifling wage growth under the coalition—

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

Senator McGrath!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

including our same job, same pay laws, getting tough on wage theft, pay rises for aged-care workers and early childhood educators, and three above-inflation increases to the national minimum wage. The result has seen wage increases recorded for both minimum-wage and award-wage workers in recent months.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Real disposable income is going backwards, mate.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, Senator Hume, we'll get to you in the supplementary about what you think about wage rises. Just hold your horses. There are plenty of quotes to come, especially from Senator Hughes, when it comes to wages and helping working people.

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

Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

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

I note that Mr Dutton and the Liberals believe wage increases would be 'the worst thing for Australians'. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to support Australians into well-paid, secure work, and why is this so important?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, well, that's right, Senator Sheldon: Peter Dutton's shadow finance minister, Senator Hume, said that wage increases would be 'the worst thing for Australians'. How in touch the Liberals are with Australians out there! As cost-of-living pressures hit working Australians, it's vital that wages stay ahead of inflation, and that's why the Albanese government has been so focused on getting wages moving again after 10 years of coalition wage stagnation.

You would think that at a time when Australians were doing it tough all political parties would support increasing wages, but, weirdly, Peter Dutton and the coalition have tried to block every single cost-of-living measure this year. They've also tried to block every step we've taken to improve wages. Now Mr Dutton and the coalition are recklessly promising to cut pay and conditions for millions of Australian workers. They've promised to cut casual rights, cut the right to disconnect, cut same job, same pay and cut multi-employer bargaining, and they're considering making it easier to sack workers as well. (Time expired)

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

Minister, I do remind you—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The people out there don't believe you, Murray. They're coming for you.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister, I do remind you to refer to people in the other house by their correct title. Senator McGrath, I invite you to make a contribution at some other point, not question time. Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

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

I note that Mr Dutton and the Liberals have proudly stated, 'On the coalition side of the chamber we always stand with the employers of Australia.' Going into the festive season, what is the Albanese Labor government doing to stand with Australian workers and families to put more money in their pockets, and what are the key barriers to achieving this?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon. While the Liberals and Nationals may say that they always stand with the employers of Australia, the Labor Party supports cooperative workplaces where both employers and workers win. Right now, due to our workplace changes—opposed by Mr Dutton—wages are up, jobs are up, inflation is down and industrial action is down.

Mr Dutton's reckless opposition to our workplace changes only hurts Australians who are doing it tough. At every turn an arrogant Mr Dutton wants to put his hand in your pocket and rip out thousands of dollars. He wants to recklessly cut your pay. He wants to take away your tax cuts. He wants you to pay more for essential things like medicine, power and child care. Mr Dutton is the grinch who wants to steal Christmas from every Australian worker. If Mr Dutton had been in power over the past two years, the average Australian household would be $7,600 worse off. Mr Dutton just doesn't add up for working people. When Australians are under pressure, Peter Dutton will make things worse. (Time expired)