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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. It's been more than three years since the government's Secure Jobs, Better Pay reform passed the parliament. How much have wages risen since these reforms came into effect? And how is it helping everyday Australians with the cost-of-living challenges?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. As Senator Sheldon well knows, the Albanese Labor government is focused on delivery—delivering on our commitments and delivering real cost-of-living relief for Australians, delivering better pay and conditions for workers around the country—because that is a key part of supporting Australians with cost-of-living pressures. The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act was passed by the Albanese Labor government in December 2022 to improve wages, reinvigorate enterprise bargaining, address the gender pay gap and improve job security.

Now, as a result of these reforms, workers covered by enterprise agreements are enjoying the strongest wages growth in the nation. The latest employee earnings and hours survey shows workers on enterprise agreements earned an average of $1,746.10 per week in May 2025, and that's $153.30 more than in 2023, before that legislation passed. This 9.6 per cent rise is the biggest increase across all methods of settling pay. More than 4.5 million people now have their pay set through enterprise agreements, highlighting their importance in Australia's wage-setting system and the effectiveness of Labor's Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act reforms. These figures show the Same Job, Same Pay reforms are delivering not only for all Australian workers but also specifically for working women. Women on enterprise agreements earned an average of $1,542.30 per week—12.4 per cent more than the average across all methods of setting pay for women. This reflects the role that good-faith bargaining plays in supporting better pay and financial security for women across the workforce. This data clearly shows the Albanese government's reforms are helping workers on enterprise agreements experience the strongest wage growth across all forms of setting pay, and it shows the Albanese government has got wages moving again to help Australians with their cost-of-living pressures.

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

Thank you, Minister; that's making a real difference. Minister, wage increases are of top priority for the Albanese Labor government in supporting Australian families. How important is it for wages to continue to keep pace with rising costs, and what would be at risk if wages were cut?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks again, Senator Sheldon. It is absolutely vital that Australians' wages continue to rise, particularly for low- and middle-income earners. Lifting wages is a key part of our government's laser-like focus to reduce the impacts of cost-of-living pressures. But, at every stage, we've seen the Liberal Party oppose any measure we've put forward to increase the wages of working Australians. They voted against our reforms in the last term, and current Leader of the Opposition, Ms Ley, has said she absolutely wants to start a new battle with us over industrial relations. Now, we know Ms Ley is certainly fighting many battles on many fronts at the moment, and that's just within her own party room. We saw that on display last week when her own shadow ministers were caught on film in their own boys'-own adventure plotting against Sussan Ley's leadership mere hours after Senator Paterson had rung into radio to back Ms Ley on radio. There he was with Senator Duniam and Senator O'Sullivan, plotting to dump the first woman leader of the Liberal Party. 'If you don't support the leader, you stand aside—' Ted's words, not mine.

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

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

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

While it's vital that Australian workers are being paid what they deserve for their days at work, it's even more vital that they have a job in the first place. Minister, can you outline how many more Australians are in work now under the Albanese government and why the dignity of having a job is so important?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are currently more than 14.6 million Australians in work, which is a record number of Australians in work, with unemployment falling to 4.1 per cent. While the Albanese government is focused on the jobs of Australians, we know that the only jobs the Liberal Party are focused on are their own. Today we read about the current opposition leader's pitch to the Nationals, to get back together. The key condition is that—

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

Senator Scarr?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance, there's absolutely no relevance. I'm sure Senator Sheldon must be very disappointed the minister isn't being directly relevant.

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

Senator Scarr, you don't stand up and have a debate. Minister Watt, I will direct you back to Senator Sheldon's question.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The key condition of the jobs deal for the three rogue senators is that they be benched—off the front bench for six months after breaking shadow cabinet solidarity. I was thinking to myself, 'What was another example where we saw three people sidelined for breaking the rules of the game?' And there it was: sandpapergate—that infamous time when we saw three of Australia's top cricketers sidelined for months after being banned for ball tampering. Now we see, in here, Senator McKenzie as the new Steve Smith, the leader who should really know better. Senator McDonald is David Warner, urging him into a scrap. And poor old Senator Cadell is Cameron Bancroft, the new guy who's been led astray. You are focused on your jobs. We're— (Time expired)