LABOR’S BILL TO END LABOUR HIRE RORTS

ANTHONY ALBANESE MP
LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
MEMBER FOR GRAYNDLER

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 
MERYL SWANSON
MEMBER FOR PATERSON

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has introduced a private member’s bill to end the labour hire rorts that are ripping off workers in the mining sector and across the Australian economy.

Workers doing the same job at the same mine, factory, construction site, abattoir, shop or office should get the same pay. It’s that simple.

But right now companies are deliberately using labour hire firms that exploit casual workers to undermine job security and undercut wages.

These dodgy arrangements are rife in the mining industry but are increasingly being used in other industries as well such as meat work, construction, hospitality and even aged care.

We know that casual workers in Queensland’s coal-mining industry are consistently earning less than their permanent colleagues – proving it’s a myth that casuals are getting paid their rightful loading.

It’s a rort that has to end.

That’s why Labor committed earlier this year to implementing a “same job, same pay” policy as part of our Secure Australian Jobs Plan. Under a Labor Government workers employed through labour hire companies will receive no less than workers employed directly.

But this doesn’t have to wait to the election.

The Morrison-Joyce Government could join with Labor right now to end these rorts and ensure workers get better pay and conditions.

Scott Morrison and his Nationals colleagues talk a big game about being on the side of miners. But just a few months ago the Liberal and National parties joined with the labour hire firms in a high court case to maintain these rorts. He wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money to ensure casuals can be ripped off.

Scott Morrison also teamed up with One Nation to pass IR changes that extinguish the rights of casual workers in all industries.

Under the government scheme passed earlier this year employers can benefit from the certainty of a permanent worker – but they don’t need to give them the benefits of permanent work like sick leave or annual leave.

If workers want to be casuals they can be. But in our meetings with miners, meat workers and labourers it’s clear many labour hire casuals crave the security, pay and conditions of the permanent workers doing the same job beside them.

Only Labor has a plan to deliver more secure jobs, better pay and a fairer industrial relations system for Australian working families.

MONDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2021