Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027

Mr GORMAN (Perth—Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (12:41): I want to thank all members for their contribution as we consider in detail the important work the government is doing in employment and workplace relations. More jobs, higher wages, lower income taxes—that's what Labor governments deliver and that's what this Labor government is delivering.

I'll note that those opposite oppose those higher wages, and they oppose those lower income taxes. We are proud of our contribution in supporting the labour market in Australia. There have been 1.2 million jobs created since the election of the Albanese Labor government.

That means 1.2 million more opportunities for people to enjoy the benefits of work in this great country, Australia. In the time since the last election, we've seen some 128,000 Australians enter into the workforce. That accompanies the work that we've done to back increases in the minimum wage.

We saw that great news yesterday about a six per cent increase in the minimum wage and a 4.75 per cent increase in award wages. On this side, we welcome that progress. I want to note that, when you look at it, since we've come to office those on the minimum wage have seen a 30 per cent increase in their wages.

That's $12,079 more that a minimum-wage worker is taking home for a 38-hour week. It builds on the work that we've done when it comes to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act, making sure that workers can earn more and keep more of what they earn, and the work we're doing when it comes to those who need more support in our labour market, including the work when it comes to the program we call Parent Pathways—supporting parents back into the workforce and staying engaged in the workforce and close to the labour market so that when their kids are a little bit older they've got the supports that they need.

I'm also pleased to report that, as this budget supports, the gender pay gap in Australia is at historic lows. On top of that, this government has expanded paid parental leave and included superannuation on paid parental leave. I want to thank a range of members who did the work when it came to supporting parents who face one of the most unimaginable tragedies of losing a child or having a stillbirth.

The work that this parliament did last year when it came to the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025, which passed in the parliament on 3 November 2025, means that there is protection for those entitlements for parents at a time of unimaginable grief. I want to thank all members who supported the passage of that through the parliament. We've also seen legislation pass through the parliament to protect penalty rates in law, benefiting some 2.6 million Australian employees, 59.8 per cent of whom are women.

On top of that, we've got our $30 billion National Skills Agreement, free TAFE and programs to help people start their own small businesses through self-employment assistance. Now we embark on the important work of employment services reform. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations announced this at the National Press Club last week, acknowledging it's major and complex reform.

We've put the money in this budget—$312 million—to establish key parts of the new system: a digital service in stream 1, a highly targeted provider-led service in stream 2 and intensive services in stream 3, for those furthest from the labour market. I encourage all Australians to engage in the consultations that are happening across the country and to go onto the department's website and have their say to make sure that we can have an employment services system that serves the Australian people.

I commend the portfolio budget to the chamber. Proposed expenditure agreed to.