QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator WALSH (Victoria—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (15:34): Thank you, Senator Whiteaker, for your question and for— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Come to order! Senator WALSH: Thank you, Senator Whiteaker, for all of your support for young workers in WA and workers across the country. This week's data confirms that wages are growing under Labor.
Wages are up by 3.2 per cent over the year, and real wages are up in the quarter as well. That matters for young workers. The young Australians who are starting— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Walsh, please resume your seat.
Senator Wong? Senator Wong: President, my point of order is about the disruptive behaviour from those opposite. This is a question about young Australians, and I think people would like to— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!
Senator Wong: It would be a bit of courtesy and respect for young Australians if the minister could at least be heard. The PRESIDENT: Minister, you would be aware that throughout this question time in particular I have called to order and I have reminded senators that I'm quite prepared to use standing order 203. I should not have to do this.
I expect the minister to be heard in silence. Minister Walsh. Senator WALSH: We support the young Australians who are starting their first job, building their skills, building their careers, building their future and getting ahead.
The Albanese Labor government is committed to helping them do just that. How? This way—on our watch, the minimum wage is now more than $12,000 a year higher, and it is $1,000 a week for the first time.
That's because we've backed five consecutive increases to the minimum wage— Senator Canavan interjecting— Senator WALSH: And I'll take the interjection. You think that is a joke? We think that is progress for Australian workers.
As the Prime Minister said, we absolutely back higher minimum wages for Australians— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Walsh, please resume your seat. Order! Senator McKenzie, if you interject any more during the remainder of question time, I am going to name you under standing order 203.
If you don't think you can keep quiet for the remainder of question time and you don't want to come under standing order 203, leave the chamber. I am serious. I'm over the interjections.
I'm over the rudeness. I'm over the disrespect. Minister Walsh, please continue.
Senator WALSH: Our government will never walk away from young workers. As the Prime Minister has said, we absolutely back higher minimum wages for Australians—unlike all of those opposite—and that includes young Australians. It's why we back penalty rates.
It's why we've locked them in with legislation. It's why we back making wage theft a crime, and we have. It's why we back abolishing junior rates, giving young workers in retail, fast food and pharmacy a pay rise.
Before I entered parliament, I was proud to represent young hospitality workers, so I know that the biggest beneficiaries of these changes are our nation's young people. This is what Labor is delivering—higher wages and higher weekly earnings. Our government has got wages moving.
We know you all love low wages. We back Australian workers. The PRESIDENT: Senator Whiteaker, first supplementary?