QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (14:46): I'd like to thank the member for Brisbane for her question but also for her relentless advocacy for working people in her electorate and, of course, right around the country. The Albanese Labor government is committed to delivering real change for Australian workers, including through helping improve work-life balance.

Of course, this includes legislating the right to disconnect. Just last month was the one-year anniversary since the right to disconnect was extended to all workers in this country. This law provides stronger protections to workers to help them balance their work and their personal lives, allowing workers to unplug guilt free and spend their time off how they want to.

For teachers like Jacob, this means—and I quote Jacob, 'Our wellbeing is being looked after and this means we will do a great job for these kids.' In addition to the right to disconnect, the Albanese Labor government has supported work-life balance through introducing laws that strengthen access to flexible work arrangements. This includes strengthening the rights for parents to request working arrangements that allow them to balance their caring responsibilities with their work.

It's been this Labor government that's extended paid parental leave to six months, allowing parents to take a step back from work and focus on being a new parent. For those workers who sacrifice their family time, this Labor government has protected penalty and overtime rates because workers deserve to be compensated for working those unsociable hours. I am asked about what the threats are to support for working families.

It comes as no surprise on this side of the House that the biggest threat to working families is those opposite—those three parties opposite, the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation. Of course, we had Senator Hanson, who has relentlessly criticised paid parental leave, railing against this important entitlement that allows new parents to take time off work and care for a newborn.

But, of course, she was in good company. When the Liberals were last in government, they accused parents of being double dippers for daring to combine their employer and government paid leave. The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation teamed up to vote against improving access to flexible working arrangements, and all three parties voted against the right to disconnect.

The now opposition leader has called for the right to disconnect to be repealed. That is how out of touch he is. At every opportunity, those opposite have failed to back working families.

It's only this Labor government that has the back of working families in this country. (Time expired)