STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms COMER (Petrie) (13:55): I rise to congratulate the Australian Workers Union on 140 years of standing up for working Australians. In 1886, a group of shearers met in Ballarat, determined to fight for better pay and working conditions. What started as workers standing together became one of the most important union movements in Australia's history, and Queensland has a special place in that story.

From the great shearers' strike of 1891 to the Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine, Queensland unionists have helped shape the Labor movement and the rights of working Australians. It's a history that I'm incredibly proud of not just as a Labor MP from Queensland but also as a proud member of the AWU myself, and 140 years later the AWU continues that same fight. Whether it's in agriculture, manufacturing, civil construction, mining or local councils, AWU members are still fighting for fair wages, safer workplaces and secure jobs.

I want to particularly acknowledge fellow Queenslander and AWU national president Marina Chambers, along with national secretary Paul Farrow, for their leadership of this great union and, of course, Queensland branch secretary Stacey Schinnerl, who made history as the first woman to lead an AWU branch anywhere in Australia. She is a champion for workers and a deadset legend.

I also want to thank the thousands of AWU delegates and organisers who stand up for their workmates every single day. To every AWU member past and present: thank you for everything you've done for working Australians. Congratulations on 140 years, and here's to another 140.