Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. The Albanese Labor government understands that Australians are doing it tough right now with the rising cost-of-living pressures. The government is doing its part by advocating for wage rises, providing tax cuts for every worker and ensuring that workplace conditions are improved. How is the government's position on boosting wages helping workers in industries like health get more in their pay packet?

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

Thanks to Senator Stewart who, along with every other Labor senator, has a proud record of standing up for working people in Australia. The Albanese Labor government is helping Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn, with higher wages and more tax cuts. Before the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, we saw strong real wage growth for eight consecutive quarters.

We know that enterprise agreements continue to be a key source of wages growth for Australian workers, which is why our efforts to reinvigorate bargaining are so important. For two years in a row now, our government has strongly advocated to the independent Fair Work Commission for an economically sustainable real wage rise for Australia's minimum and award wage workers, many of whom work in the health and aged-care sectors. The recent decision by the commission to increase the national minimum wage and modern awards by at least 4.75 per cent will deliver a real wage increase from 1 July for almost 2.7 million Australian workers around the country. This is, of course, in stark contrast to the previous Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison coalition governments who for a decade had a policy of deliberately keeping wages low.

Only the Albanese Labor government is committed to increasing the pay packets of working Australians. An article on news.com.au this morning quoted new analysis which looked into how much better off workers in the health sector are under our government. And that analysis found that allied health worker wages have risen by between $8,000 and $13,000 per year as a result of Labor's wage rises, including for workers such as physiotherapists and radiographers. A further $1,200 per year had come to those workers from Labor's reforms allowing multiemployer bargaining, while gender based undervaluation changes could account for up to an additional $20,000 per year for some classifications. For aged-care workers, it's a similar story. Changes to bargaining were estimated to have accounted for an additional $600; wage theft reforms, a further $1,840; and gender based—

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

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Our hardworking health workers are on the front line of providing quality care for our kids, for our grandparents and for other loved ones who are sick. Minister, why is it important that governments ensure that these workers are earning more and keeping more of what they earn?

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

Whether it's wage rises or tax cuts, the Albanese government is doing everything we can to help working Australians. But we see today reports in the Daily Telegraph that One Nation wants to form a new partnership with the Liberal Party that would risk all of that. Now, this isn't a surprise to those of us who've seen One Nation and the Liberals vote together for years now to cut wages, but it would be a surprise to many aged-care and health workers.

The analysis in news.com.au estimated that under One Nation an allied health worker would be up to $34,000 worse off per year. Aged-care workers would be up to $20,000 worse off under One Nation's plans. So Senator Hanson has already set out a plan to wind back Australia's workplace laws to cut workers' wages and make it easier to sack workers. And, under their partnership with the Liberal Party, they certainly have a willing partner in the Liberals. Only Albanese Labor government, is delivering the real change that Australians need.

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

Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

With an ageing population, not just retaining workers but attracting more workers to the healthcare sector is vital to keep pace with the demands that are growing in the community. What are some of the ways governments can encourage more workers into this really important industry?

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

To ensure that our country can meet the challenges and demands of the future, we need to make sure that the health sector has enough skilled workers. We're backing those workers with wage rises and tax cuts. But, of course, the One Nation and Liberal partnership want to dig into their pockets and rip thousands of dollars out.

It really is hard to know what the point of the Liberal Party is anymore. Who are you? What do you stand for? You've got a leader in Angus Taylor, who's being directed by his mentor, Tony Abbott, to pander to the hard right and who doesn't know whether he's for a monoculture or a multiculture. You've got a leader in waiting in Andrew Hastie, who says he 'won't bend the knee' to One Nation. You've got senators like Senator Antic who are already wearing their One Nation orange ties before they jump ship. But then you've got others like Senator Scarr who celebrate multiculturalism. The One Nation-Liberal partnership won't help Australians. The One Nation-Liberal partnership just means more cuts, more chaos and more division.

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

Senator Watt, I remind you to refer to those in the other place by their correct titles.