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

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Since the election in May 2022, a key priority of the Albanese Labor government has been delivering a higher wages for workers. How important is it for the government to continue its policy of higher wages for workers to help Australians with cost-of-living pressures?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I'm going to wait once again until there is order on my left. Minister Watt.

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

Sorry. I was so enraptured by that question, President! Under the Albanese Labor government, Australians are earning more and keeping more, helping them to deal with cost-of-living pressures. Wages increased by 3.4 per cent to December 2025, up from 3.3 per cent in September.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Once again, order on my left, particularly those on the front bench. Minister Watt, please continue.

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

As I said, wages increased by 3.4 per cent to December 2025, up from 3.3 per cent in September. They doesn't just happen by accident; it's the result of deliberate Labor policies that have actively increased wages. Of course, all of this has been opposed by the coalition because they don't want to see everyday Australians getting ahead. If you thought it would be any better under the new Liberal leadership team, you would be very, very wrong. As the former leader Ms Ley—remember her? None of you seem to. She said last week that the new Liberal leadership team immediately re-adopted her policies. It kind of makes you wonder what the point was, really. We've got a new Liberal leader whose solution to the cost of living was long lunches for bosses and a deputy—who hasn't been given a question yet, I notice—who wanted to ban working from home. Happy anniversary, Jane!

The rap sheet is long when it comes to these characters. Let's look at the new shadow Treasurer, Mr Wilson, who has criticised the Fair Work Commission's decision to increase the minimum wage and opposed legislation enshrining penalty rates and law. And the Liberals' secret election review—ooh!—hidden by the Leader of the Opposition but now leaked to the media, admits that those who now have control of the party were the architects of their electoral defeat. The review blames policies like opposition to income tax cuts. You should make that bloke leader! Oh, that's right: you have! And there was the denial of flexible working arrangements—happy anniversary! Oh!

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. I'm waiting for silence. Senator Henderson?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order: could you ask the minister to direct his answer through the chair? Thank you.

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

Senator Henderson, I am more than happy to do that. I would also request that the front bench—

Senator McKenzie, just as I'm speaking to try and get order, you interject. Perhaps there's a deal here. Senator Watt can direct his answers to the chair and the front bench on my left can be quiet. Minister Watt.

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

Through you, President, we are very happy to see Senator Henderson back on the front bench. The challenge for the coalition now is: will they heed their own review or continue to cut Australian— (Time expired)

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

The Albanese Labor government knows that higher wages are vitally important to ensuring the pay packets of Australian workers can keep pace with cost-of-living pressures. Improving working conditions can also have a material benefit in the lives of millions of workers across the country. How has the government improved conditions for Australian workers, and how important is it that these measures are maintained?

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

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. Whether it's our closing-loopholes legislation, voted against by the coalition; fixing the labour hire system, voted against by the collision; or enhancements to flexible working arrangements, the Albanese government knows that making changes to help workers get ahead is really important to do. Unfortunately, that view is not shared by those opposite, who only wish to punish workers who want more flexibility. The treasure trove of quotes from the new shadow Treasurer—he wants to repeal the right to disconnect, he wants children to take up side hustles to help feed their families. As has already been canvassed by Minister Gallagher, the architect of their failed work-from-home policy, Senator Hume, is now in charge of their entire industrial relations policy.

Now, the Liberals' secret review was scathing in his assessment of the policy which Senator Hume led. and how do we know that? Because I tabled the Liberal Party review of their policy. My favourite line in that review is on page 18, about the working-from-home debacle: 'Memories vary on who approved it.' It was Senator Hume!

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

The Albanese Labor government's policy of higher wages and better conditions is also driving increased participation in the labour market. With a record number of Australians now in work, how is the government helping to keep Australians in their jobs?

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

Senator McKenzie, it seems you want to answer this question, but the question was directed to Minister Watt.

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

No Nationals have had a question today, but there's always hope!

Since the government came to office in May 2022, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. Of course, one of those jobs has been created a few times over, and that's the leader of the coalition. While we're focused on creating more jobs for Australians, the new leader of the opposition's sole focus is on protecting his own. What other reason is there for him announcing his willingness to do preferences with One Nation? He's someone who wants to return to Howard-style conservatism, but he won't follow John Howard's principled decision to put One Nation last. That decision is certainly not following recommendation 16 of the Liberal's secret election review, which states:

Broadening the support base is necessary if the Party is to reflect modern Australia.

When the authors of that review said that they need to broaden the base, I don't think they were talking about Bolt and Credlin; they were talking about a wide range of Australians, including Australian workers, who deserve every pay rise they've got under a Labor government.

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

As much as I would like to keep listening to Minister Watt, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.