QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (14:30): I'd like to thank the member for Macnamara for his question and for his fierce advocacy for workers in his electorate but also right around the country. The Albanese Labor government is helping to deliver higher wages for workers because we know this is one of the best ways to help with cost-of-living pressures.

We have delivered world-leading minimum standards to ensure gig workers do not have to rely on tips to make ends meet. With the first minimum standard coming into force this week, some platform delivery drivers are now earning 25 per cent more. It's this Labor government that has also backed wage rises for our lowest paid workers each and every year that we've been in government.

This Labor government has reinvigorated enterprise bargaining, which is delivering higher wages for more workers. Just last week, the Minister for Education introduced legislation to lock in a 15 per cent pay increase for our early educators. This government closed the labour liar loophole, which meant that many people doing the same job— Opposition members interjecting— Ms RISHWORTH: Okay, I'll do it again: the labour hire loophole.

You know where I'm going. You don't want to get there. The SPEAKER: Members on my left will cease interjecting immediately.

Ms RISHWORTH: This government is getting wages moving. Honourable members interjecting— Ms RISHWORTH: And getting wages moving is critical to this government's mandate. The ABS data released today shows that annual nominal wages have grown above three per cent under this Labor government for the last four years, and this data also shows that real wages have grown in the June quarter.

I know this is the bit they don't want me to get to because I am asked what could put this progress at risk. Of course we all know what will put this progress at risk. It would be the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation, if they were to ever form government.

Not only did those opposite, when they were in government, have low wages as a key design feature of their economic policy but they failed to back pay rises for our low-paid workers. Opposition members interjecting— Mr Repacholi interjecting— Ms RISHWORTH: As I reported yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition described our laws that have led to pay rises as being disastrous.

That is his attitude to wage increases. Of course he is in good company with One Nation, who have consistently voted with the Liberals and the Nationals to stop laws that will actually deliver pay increases to workers in this country. It is very clear that if the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation were to ever form government workers, wages would be on the chopping block.

(Time expired) The SPEAKER: There was far too much noise during that answer. The member for Hunter interjected 11 times during that answer. He'll leave the chamber under the provisions of standing order 94(a).

He simply can't continuously interject on people. I made that clear yesterday. It goes to both sides of the chamber.

The member for Hunter then left the chamber. The SPEAKER: Now that the House has come to order, we'll hear from the honourable member for Riverina.