QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (14:47): I'd like to thank the member for Aston for her question and for her commitment to backing Australian workers. Of course, this Labor government has delivered significant reforms to get wages moving and improve the pay of hard-working Australians. One of the many ways that we're delivering higher wages is through same-job same-pay laws.

When those opposite were in government, they turned a blind eye when labour hire arrangements were being used to undercut the hard-earned wages of Australian workers. It took this Labor government to fix it. Our same-job same-pay laws are based on a simple idea: if you're doing the same work, you should get paid the same.

Now, of course, our changes have led to thousands of workers across a range of industries, including mining, aviation, warehousing and transport, earning up to $60,000 more a year. Not only are these workers receiving substantial pay increases, but many are being offered direct employment as well. One of these workers is Megan.

Megan is now approximately $20,000 better off per year because of our laws. Megan is one of 750 domestic flight attendants that are receiving substantial pay rises because of our government. After waiting 14 years for a pay rise, Megan said that our laws meant her and her co-workers and 'are finally successful in receiving a fair wage'.

This government believes workers like Megan deserve fair pay, and that's why we are backing them to get it. I am asked what could place wage rises for workers like Megan at risk. Well, we all know what will place these wage rises at risk.

It is the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation, who have opposed our laws every step of the way. You would think that with the clear evidence of workers like Megan benefitting they might have had a change of heart. But no, no, no.

Earlier this year we've had Senator Hanson confirm she still opposes these laws. Just this month, Senator Hume turned up at the HR Nicholls Society and endorsed a radical workplace agenda which includes repealing same job, same pay. Of course, her position backs the Leader of the Opposition's position, which said these laws should be on the chopping block.

It is only this Labor government that is backing working people and can be trusted with their wages.