My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Walsh. The Albanese Labor government is committed to ensuring working Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. Part of that is influencing balanced employment conditions. Recently, we marked the one year anniversary of the government's landmark changes to protect penalty rates and give workers the right to disconnect. Minister, how have these changes benefited workers across the country?

Thank you, Senator Dolega. I know you have spent your working life fighting for Australian workers, and I know that this is a really important issue to you, so thank you for the question. Senator, I can tell you that the Albanese government fundamentally believes that Australians should earn a fair wage and keep more of it.

Last year, our government introduced historic reforms to improve pay, job security and working conditions for Australians. Our changes are protecting the penalty rates of 2.6 million Australians who rely on awards. Penalty rates aren't a bonus or a luxury. They are a core entitlement for workers who sacrifice their weekends and their public holidays to keep Australia moving. We back them, and we back their penalty rates.

Last month marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the right to disconnect. Before the Albanese Labor government introduced the right to disconnect, workers felt penalised for wanting to spend uninterrupted time with their loved ones. It shouldn't be controversial that, if you're not getting paid, you shouldn't have to give up your personal time. Now Australians know that their time at home is protected.

This reform is being embraced by both workers and employers, with more than half of businesses surveyed by the Australian HR Institute indicating the right to disconnect has improved employee engagement and productivity. Teachers, nurses and hospo workers right across Australia are better off because of our changes—changes that were of course rejected by those opposite.

Our government will always stand up for workers. We are the party of workers, and we will ensure that Australian workers are valued and that they are protected.

Senator Dolega, first supplementary?

We know Australians are doing it tough right now, with global volatility and inflation continuing to be key challenges in the economy. The Albanese Labor government is responsibly managing the budget to create jobs and boost wages to help deal with these challenges. How have the government's changes to workplace laws, including protecting penalty rates and improving working conditions, complemented this work?

We understand that many Australians are feeling pressure at the moment, and that's why our No. 1 focus is delivering real cost-of-living relief. Under our government 1.3 million extra jobs have been created. We have the lowest average unemployment for any government in half a century, and your wages have grown above three per cent for 16 straight quarters.

In addition to more jobs and higher wages, protecting penalty rates is one of the key ways our government is supporting Australian workers. If you work when most Australians are spending time with family, you deserve fair compensation. That includes employees on awards, the majority of who are women and who are under the age of 35. For hundreds of thousands of Australians, penalty rates mean the difference between getting by and getting ahead, and we want Australians to get ahead. While those opposite want to cut workers' rights, only this government backs Australian workers.

Senator Dolega, second supplementary?

Thank, Minister—absolutely. Whether it's boosting wages, keeping unemployment historically low or protecting working conditions, the Albanese Labor government has proven it's always on the side of working Australians. Minister, what is the government doing to protect workers' pay and conditions, and what are we protecting them from?

Labor is the only party that works every day to make sure that the lives of working people are better. Let's be honest: One Nation and the coalition are never on the side of working people. Don't take my word for it. Look at their record. The coalition and One Nation have teamed up to oppose increases to the minimum wage, to scrap penalty rates and to make it easier to sack people.

Now the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation are openly discussing forming a new coalition to try to win the next election. We know what this would look like for Australian workers: lower wages, longer hours and less job security. Only the Albanese Labor government will protect the wages and working conditions of Australians, because we believe in a better working future for Australians where no-one is held back and where no-one is left behind.