QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (15:03): I'd like to thank the member for Hughes for his question and for his commitment to delivering for Australian workers. I'm pleased to report to the member for Hughes that the Albanese Labor government is delivering real change to improve and protect the pay packets of working Australians.
We have, of course, backed and funded pay rises for early educators and workers in aged care. This important commitment finally recognises these workers who teach our children and care for our elderly. They have been undervalued for too long and they deserve a pay rise.
This government has passed laws to make enterprise bargaining easier. Workers on enterprise agreements are benefiting from stronger wage growth. And of course we've now seen a historic record number of employees covered by enterprise agreements.
Our government has also introduced same job, same pay laws so that workers' wages cannot be undercut by the use of labour hire doing the exact same job. And, because of these laws, more than 8,000 workers are receiving pay rises. Recently, I had the great privilege of visiting the Hunter, where I met with coalminers who told me these reforms are not only delivering pay increases of up to $40,000 a year but delivering direct, permanent employment.
These laws are delivering not only fairness but also security for these workers. Since the Albanese government came to office, we've advocated for low-paid workers each and every single year as part of the annual wage review. It means that our lowest-paid workers on the national minimum wage are now earning more than $1,000 a week for the first time.
Our government also legislated to protect penalty and overtime rates in the modern award safety net, ensuring these workers' pay packets wouldn't go backwards. We made deliberate wage theft a crime, providing an important protection for workers. We also introduced new standards to ensure gig workers don't have to rely on tips to get ahead.
This Albanese Labor government is also committed to ensuring that workers are able to get a fair go and resolve workplace disputes swiftly and quickly. That is why this prime minister announced recently that this Labor government will establish a Fair Work court to make it simpler and quicker for workers to get what they are entitled to and deliver a more efficient process for employers seeking workplace resolution.
It is only this Labor government that is committed to getting wages moving and pursuing real change for Australian— (Time expired) Mr Albanese: I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. Mr Speaker, can I just add to the Assistant Treasurer's comments about filling in the Census tonight. It is very important that every Australian do that.