Grievance Debate

Federal Election

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:05): I rise to speak about the appalling record of the Liberal Party in relation to workers, a record that exemplifies their utter disregard for working people, their complete lack of understanding about what people engaged in low paid, insecure work, and indeed any work, go through to make ends meet, their long-term committed relationship with the top end of town and their inability and deep reluctance to do what it takes to achieve fairness and equality.

It is a record, and approach, that is so very well supported by every one of those opposite, many of whom seem bizarrely obsessed with disparaging unions and any collective voice that speaks up for dignity and equality for people at work. I am sure that it is an obsession born out of the fact that they know that it is the labour movement that often stands up for people being able to live a decent life in the face of the interests of their beloved big end of town. It is a record and approach at the very core of their federal party and a record and approach of which Nicolle Flint, the member for Boothby, is an exemplar.

At this federal election, Australians have a choice: a choice between Labor, whose record on working with and for working people to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect, is strong, sound, at the centre of their history, their present and everything they will deliver for Australians into the future, and the LNP, who have highlighted over and over that they just do not get what working people getting a fair go looks like, let alone what needs to be done to make sure that they do.

Today, I examine a few of their highlights, or lowlights as the case most clearly is. In 1972, Australian women, through their unions, fought for and won equal pay, enshrining the principle that women and men undertaking the same work be paid the same, a huge step forward for equality. But since then pay inequality has continued, as industries predominantly engaged in by women continue to attract lesser pay than those industries traditionally engaged in by men.

Ninety seven per cent of early childhood educators are women, and for too long the outstanding role these workers play at the heart of our community, supporting and developing our youngest Australians, has been undervalued, misunderstood and underpaid. As part of their ongoing campaign, they are seeking support from federal candidates and asking them to sign a pledge to support their work being valued as it should be.

These workers met with the member for Boothby and asked her to sign that pledge, which simply reads, 'I stand with early educators' professional pay now.' Unsurprisingly, she refused. I say 'unsurprisingly' because this is the person who, whilst Labor were listening to these workers, signing the pledge, committing to close the gender pay gap and increase their pay by 20 per cent, was instead signing petitions to get her ultra-conservative mate Peter Dutton a new job. This is the same member for Boothby who voted not once, twice or even three times to cut penalty rates, but eight times—eight—and 20 times against the banking royal commission.

If you care about working people, about people doing it tough, and if you care about those who deeply rely on penalty rates to pay the rent and about those who deserve compensation for working on Sundays away from family and friends, you support them earning a decent wage. The party of those opposite could have intervened and supported the restoration of penalty rates. They could have thought about those who cook and serve them food and drinks, who work for global corporations selling all sorts of things at Westfield Marion and elsewhere.

The member for Boothby could have considered those people and the impact this cut will have on their lives, but she did not. Nor did she think about the dangerous precedent this slashing of penalty rates sets for those who rely on them, working around the clock in DV services, in hospitals and in emergency services—she did not.

The member for Boothby, those opposite and their mates in Canberra did not think about those working women who deal with the terrible impact of domestic violence, who desperately need paid leave to ensure they can keep their job and have both the finances and time they need to move house, for court appointments and to seek support from services. In the meantime, Australian Labor has clearly committed to 10 paid days' leave for people experiencing domestic violence.

Australian women did not expect better from a party with so few women amongst its ranks and with no plan to change this, but they are disappointed because, whilst they did not expect better, they know they deserve so much better than this.