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 nearly 18 months since the Albanese Labor government's landmark same-jobs same-pay laws came into effect. How are the government's changes to these laws and other reforms helping thousands of Australians deal with cost-of-living pressures?

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

Thanks, Senator Sheldon. It is good to get a question about industrial relations. We're waiting to get a question from the new shadow minister for industrial relations, but we'll keep asking about it in the meantime, because thousands of workers across the country have benefited from pay increases under the Albanese Labor government's landmark same-job same-pay laws, because someone shouldn't be paid less than their co-worker simply because they're employed as labour hire. It's estimated that more than 8,000 workers across mining, aviation, railway, meat processing, automotive, water treatment and many other industries have benefited so far from this Labor initiative. That includes hundreds of Qantas flight attendants who have secured pay rises of up to $20,000 a year to bring them into line with employees directly employed by the business, and, at three of BHP's Bowen Basin mines in Central Queensland, 1,800 mine workers will receive average pay rises of up to $30,000 per year due to Labor's same-job same-pay laws.

Of course, there's one Central Queenslander who isn't so keen on these workers getting a fair deal. Who could that be? I'll give you a hint: it's a man who feels happy dressing up like a coalminer but is even happier when he comes to Canberra and cuts the pay of coalminers. The new Nationals leader, Senator Canavan, has voted consistently against Labor's laws that would mean a better deal for workers, including in Central Queensland coalmines. He's for dressing up in high-vis, but he's against higher wages for coalminers, flight attendants, meat workers and more. Senator Canavan's record shows he's a massive risk to the pay and living standards of those he claims to represent, and I can tell you regional Queenslanders don't need a Canberra Zoolander who pats a bit of dirt on his face and struts around coalmines. They want secure jobs and better pay, and that's what they're getting under the Albanese Labor government.

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 is focused on ensuring Australians are earning more and keeping more of what they earn. How has criminalising wage theft ensured everyday Aussie workers aren't being ripped off by their bad bosses?

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

Thanks again, Senator Sheldon. The Albanese Labor government stood up for Australian workers by delivering on our promise to criminalise wage theft across the nation. Until recently, if an employer stole from workers—

Senator Hume, if you've got a question about IR, you're welcome to ask one, but it seems that you miss out. I guess you're not on the tactics committee, so you don't get much of a go.

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

Minister Watt, direct your answers through the chair.

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

Until recently, if an employer stole from a worker's pay packet, it wasn't illegal, and that's why the Albanese government made it a criminal offence to deliberately underpay workers—something, of course, that Senator Canavan and the Nationals voted against, just like the Liberals and just like One Nation. On a personal level, I congratulate Senator Canavan on his election to the Nats leadership. Personally, I could not be happier than to see him become the leader. This is the man who dragged the Liberals to drop net zero and who will now drag them even further to the right as he chases One Nation.

I rarely agree with Mr Joyce, Barnaby Joyce, but he was spot on when he said:

… there'll be a lot of similarities between Matt, myself and Pauline …

And that's because the Nats are with One Nation and so are the Liberals.

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

Thank you, Minister. Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

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

Whether it's 'same job, same pay' or criminalising wage theft, the Albanese Labor government is helping Australians keep more of their pay in their pocket. The government's reforms to paid parental leave are also delivering financial security to about 180,000 families a year. At one of the most important times in their lives, how are these changes helping young families deal with cost-of-living challenges?

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

Senator McKenzie, that was out of order. I'm going to ask for silence after I've called the minister and he begins to respond.

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

Last year, the Albanese Labor government's historic reforms to paid parental leave began. These changes were designed to help working mums and dads be better supported through the early years of their child's development. Not only did these reforms increase the leave period by two weeks but they also increased the entitlement by $775 and importantly, for the first time, included paying superannuation during the leave period.

What did Senator Canavan and the Nationals do when they had their chance to support working mums and dads? They voted against our paid parental leave changes. Senator Canavan has a long record of not backing women in the workforce. Who could forget him saying that the gender pay gap is not real? Tell that to Australian women. Australians are about to get to know Senator Canavan much, much better, and the people most worried about that are those sitting in Liberal Party marginal seats.

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

They really are very worried, aren't they, President? On that basis, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.