Amanda Rishworth
Kingston · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“He contacted my office to let me know that this will make a huge difference to him and other young people in the retail workspace who now feel they can get ahead and start saving for a home. Tax cuts are also coming in on 1 July.”
“Of course, the Labor Party is the party of superannuation. We firmly believe that superannuation enables people to save for their retirement. It is a very important reform.”
“Yesterday was 1 July, and this was a really important day where a lot of cost-of-living help was provided by this government. Starting from 1 July, I'm really very pleased that workers that rely on the national minimum wage and national minimum award wages will have seen a boost to their wages.”
“We know that this government is backing not only a minimum wage rise but also tax cuts for workers. This government is delivering a fairer tax system for hardworking Australians. From today, over 14 million taxpayers will get a tax cut delivered by this Labor government.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Moreton for her question and for her years and years of standing up for working Australians in this place and before she came here. This Albanese Labor government is delivering real change for Australians with a range of cost-of-living measures coming in from today.”
“Our commitment to boost the minimum wage has been welcomed by workers like Bianca. Bianca is a retail worker, and she said, 'Getting this pay rise helps those in less fortunate situations like me.' This pay rise means that Raj, a support worker, can afford to buy a new bike for his son, which he has been asking for.”
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“I'd like to thank the member for Gellibrand for his question and his passionate support of workers right across this country, including, of course, in Melbourne. Our government is committed to getting wages moving. Today, our Labor government announced that we will again advocate to the Fair Work Commission for an economically sustainable real wage increase for our lowest paid workers on minimum award wages. This would help almost 2.7 million workers across the country, including cleaners, retail workers, security guards, hospitality workers—many of whom rely on minimum award wages. These workers are often on lower wages and are more likely to be women, be employed on a casual basis or working part time and be younger.”
“This bill ensures that our workplace relations framework can respond when it needs to, quickly, responsibly and in the public interest, and I urge you to join the government in supporting this bill. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“Stakeholder support for the bill The government's announcement of this measure has been widely supported by the road transport industry, including the Australian Road Transport Industrial Association, the Australian Road Freighters Association, the Transport Workers' Union and the Australian Trucking Association, whose CEO Mat Munroe said this week that the ATA stands with the government in full support of its announcement. Conclusion Ultimately this bill is about fairness, resilience and sustainability in contract chains. It's about ensuring that the road transport workers, operators and drivers like Justin are not left to shoulder global shocks on their own. These are the people who keep food on supermarket shelves, materials moving to construction sites, and essential supplies flowing to communities across Australia.”
“But we also built in a 'failsafe' mechanism allowing parties to apply for an order to be suspended while the commission considers whether to vary or revoke it. Taken together, these safeguards ensure the commission can address systemic issues that arise in complex contractual chains, while maintaining confidence that reforms will improve fairness and safety without imposing unreasonable burdens on businesses or undermining industry sustainability.”
“After this period, the normal mandatory timeframes will again apply to any ongoing applications made to the commission. These are complex issues affecting people across the globe. Solutions are not simple, which is why we've given the commission jurisdiction to work these issues through in a way that recognises the need to act quickly to protect the livelihoods of truck drivers and keep essential supplies flowing across Australia. The strong safeguards we legislated with the closing loopholes reforms will continue to apply to the commission's decision-making. This includes ensuring that industry is adequately consulted and being satisfied that the order will not unduly impact business viability and competitiveness.”
“Once a determination is made, the commission will be able to make contractual chain orders without the usual six-month minimum timeframe, so that truckies and small road transport businesses aren't left to worry about managing rising costs on their own. The requirement on the commission to consult with parties and step through its processes will remain. It will still be up to the commission, in consultation with affected parties, to determine the terms of the order, which must be limited to the issues that have triggered the minister's declaration. But this reform means it will be able to act more quickly, helping to maintain business viability in the current, volatile environment. As this bill is about establishing a new pathway to respond to issues urgently, a six-month limit applies to orders made under the new urgent pathway.”
“As our country experiences the impact of the war in the Middle East, the government recognises the need to establish an urgent pathway for truckies and road transport businesses to argue for their fair share in the Fair Work Commission. This bill will amend the Fair Work Act to enable the commission to respond more quickly to contractual chain order applications in time-sensitive circumstances. The amendments will now allow me, as minister, to determine that an application can be dealt with more quickly when there is a significant, national, negative impact on the road transport sector and it is in the public interest to act quickly. In doing so, the minister will need to consider the road transport objective, which requires balancing the interests of businesses and drivers, with a focus on the sustainability of the sector.”
“We're also looking after our trucking industry by cracking down on sham contracting, with stronger protections against sham contracting and compliance action from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Taxation Office. There are also increased penalties for employers who dodge their obligations to their employees. The Albanese government is building on these changes to ensure greater fairness, sustainability and resilience through road transport contract chains amid global fuel challenges. The Fairer Fuel Bill This bill is about making sure hardworking truckies and small road transport businesses are not pushed to the brink by severe cost shocks. Under the current legislation, the Fair Work Commission must consult when setting a contractual chain order for a minimum of six months.”
“Government action to support the road transport industry The Albanese government has already taken a stand to give hardworking truckies like Justin a fair go. And that's why in our first term, our government delivered landmark workplace relations reforms with a clear goal of fair minimum standards for employee-like work and the road transport industry. These were significant changes, which responded to unsustainable practices in the road transport industry putting businesses, workers and their families under immense financial pressure. And our government fought hard to deliver them. And the Fair Work Commission and the parties are doing their part, carefully working through a number of applications under the new regulated worker provisions.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction Our road transport industry is vital to keeping our nation's economy moving. Without trucks and their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia stops. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp spike in the price of fuel. Anyone who's filled up their car recently knows how much of a financial strain this is causing. These surging costs are being felt by many Australians. But they are particularly being felt by truckies who deliver the goods that Australian households and businesses depend on. Drivers are the backbone of our economy—drivers like Justin, who I met earlier this week halfway through his overnight shift, ensuring that food and goods are delivered where they needed to go.”
“This Labor government is standing up for our truckies and our road transport industry, ensuring it's reliable and viable resilient into the future.”
“The president of the National Road Freighters Association, Glyn Castanelli, said the government's announcement couldn't come soon enough and noted, 'We've got to protect truckies and that is what this will do.' The Australian Trucking Association also strongly supported our actions, saying: The ATA stands today with the Government, with the union, with our employers and with our small operators in … support of this announcement. Further, the ATA committed, 'We will do anything to speed this amendment through the parliament,' and we thank them for their assistance. The Transport Workers' Union said of the importance of this legislation that the 'government is taking decisive action'. And I'm pleased to say that we even had positive comments in the Courier Mail editorial today which said that these changes are 'good news' for truckies.”
“This government recognises, with the ongoing war in the Middle East resulting in volatile fuel prices, the commission needs the power to respond more quickly to contract chain order applications to ensure that trucking companies and owner-operators are not left to absorb the costs on their own. In good news for the industry, this government has taken swift and decisive action to do exactly this. Yesterday, we announced that we'll be introducing an amendment to the Fair Work Act to establish an urgent pathway for truckies to argue for their fair share at the commission. I'm asked about the response to our announcement and what our action has been. Well, there has been broad support right across the transport industry for our action.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Moreton for her question and for standing up for workers and for standing up for Australian truck drivers in Queensland and right across Australia. Now, this Labor government is backing the trucking industry and truck drivers who are delivering essential goods across Australia. They deserve to make a decent living. In recognition of this, the government has given the Fair Work Commission the ability to issue contract chain orders and set fair minimum standards across the road transport supply chain, ensuring that truckies in our country get a fair go. Under the current legislation, the Fair Work Commission must consult when setting contract chain orders for a minimum of six months.”
“The government's announcement has been widely supported by industry, including the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation, the National Road Freighters Association, the Transport Workers' Union and the Australian Trucking Association, whose CEO, Mat Munro, today said that the ATA stands with the government in full support of its announcement. The question for those opposite is: will they stand with Australian truckies when this legislation comes to the parliament?”
“That is why our government today announced that we will amend the Fair Work Act to enable the commission to respond more quickly to contract chain order applications in time sensitive circumstances. This is so truckies and transport operators aren't left to worry about managing rising costs on their own. Consultation will not be removed. The commission will still need to step through its processes, but it will be able to act more quickly, helping to maintain business viability in the current volatile environment. It is critical that the costs of rising fuel prices are shared fairly through our supply chain so that our truckies and transport businesses can remain viable.”
“We are cracking down on sham contracting and have increased penalties for employers who dodge their obligations to their employees. The government has also introduced strong powers for the Fair Work Commission to set fair minimum standards across the road transport supply chain, ensuring that our truckies and transport operators get a fair go. Under the current legislation, the Fair Work Commission must consult when setting contract chain orders for a minimum of six months. As our country experiences the impact of the war in the Middle East, our government recognises the need to establish an urgent pathway for truckies to argue for their fair share in the Fair Work Commission.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Blair for his question, because he's someone that always backs Aussie truckers. Our road transport industry is vital to keeping our nation's economy moving. Without trucks and their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia would stop. It's truckies like Justin, who I met this morning on his overnight stop. He was very generous to talk to me, because he hadn't been to sleep yet. He is one of the many hardworking Australians ensuring that food and goods are delivered to where they're needed, and it's this government that wants to give truckies like Justin a fair go. That is why our government has passed significant reforms to ensure that our road transport industry is strong and resilient for Australia's future.”
“This is in sharp contrast to the coalition, who dared Holden to leave South Australia when they were last in government. They destroyed local car manufacturing. It's only this government that will deliver for— (Time expired)”
“Action was critical not only to save jobs in South Australia but also because it is in our national interest that we have structural steel-making capacity in this country. Together with the Malinauskas government, we've made significant investments in the AUKUS program to secure Australia's defence future capability and the lasting prosperity for jobs in the state of South Australia. This investment will directly create close to 10,000 highly skilled, well-paid jobs in South Australia alone and this will provide enormous economic opportunity to lift skills, wages and living standards for generations to come. Not only is this a good thing for South Australia; it is a good thing for the country. With the re-election of the Malinauskas Labor government, our two governments will continue to work to deliver for South Australians.”
“That is an extra 90,000 people in work, and that is good news. Compared to four years ago, the average South Australian full-time worker is now earning an additional 19 per cent extra in wages. Again, good news for South Australians—200,000 workers in South Australia are benefiting from our government's advocacy to the Fair Work Commission for a real wage increase to the minimum wage, and these workers are also benefiting from the action our government took to protect penalty and overtime rates. We are creating well-paid jobs in South Australia and it hasn't happened by accident; it's because of state and federal governments working together to deliver. The state and federal Labor governments have worked in close partnership and have jointly invested to back over a thousand workers at the Whyalla steelworks.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Adelaide for his question. Of course, he is a proud South Australian, always standing up for the city of Adelaide and, of course, the whole of South Australia in this place. The Albanese Labor government's No. 1 focus is delivering cost-of-living relief while building Australia's future. Our Labor government has delivered significant workplace changes and investment in critical industries to deliver better outcomes for working Australians, including, of course, for South Australians. I'm very pleased to inform the House that, in good news in my home state of South Australia, more people are in work and, of course, they are earning more. In the last four years, South Australia's unemployment rate has dropped from five per cent in March 2022 to four per cent in February 2026.”
“What is really clear is that, while the Liberals may have changed leader, they have not learnt anything from the last election. It is only Labor that will back Aussies balancing life and family and work.”
“The Liberals' own election review confirmed that this was a terrible policy. The review highlighted that this policy demonstrated that 'the Liberals were unsympathetic to the needs of women to better balance their work and family life'. Of course, it was also highlighted in their election review that voters were turned away from voting Liberal because this policy would have made life more difficult. The review also—and I did read it—called for some critical reflection from those opposite, but instead we have Senator Hume doubling down and defending the ban on work from home, saying it was the policy backflip, not the policy itself, that was a problem. Well, that certainly doesn't sound like a whole lot of critical self-reflection to me.”
“Well, unlike those opposite, we on this side of the house believe workers like Anna deserve to have work-life balance and we do not believe it's unreasonable. Now, of course, our laws are also strengthening access to flexible work, making it easier for workers to request arrangements like work from home. The analysis from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia highlights that work from home policies can save Aussies up to $110 per week. Well, not only did the coalition vote against these important improvements, but, as we all know now, Senator Hume took it even further by committing at the last election to abolish work from home altogether. This was a terrible policy that would have hurt many workers, especially women workers. Don't just take it from me.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Cunningham for her question and her steadfast commitment to sticking up for Australian workers. Our government has made significant reforms to ensure that Australians can better balance their work and personal life. Of course, it was our government that introduced the right to disconnect, which means Australians now have a right to enjoy time off with their family and friends guilt free. Anna, an aged carer, described the right to disconnect as 'life changing', helping her to better balance her work and family. Now, speaking of things the opposition votes against, of course those opposite voted against the right to disconnect, with the newly appointed shadow minister for employment labelling these laws as 'unreasonable'.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders and with the community for the Australian people to deliver better pay and secure work so that we can all live productively.”
“Those pay increases, while they're very good for those workers when it comes to the cost of living, are essential in recognising the dignity of the work that those workers are doing and the value of that work. I've spoken to many workers who said that the same job, same pay laws were critical in feeling valued. We continue to do the work in the portfolio of employment and workplace relations. I also want to note that we have now seen 1.2 million jobs created under this government's watch. That is really significant and, despite so many naysayers on the opposite side, these jobs are so important. The dignity of work is so important. Having a well-paid, secure job is very, very important.”
“I just want to highlight again—I've said this many, many times in this place—that educating our youngest Australians is critically essential work. This pay increase is a real recognition of the work that they do, and I want to pay tribute to them. Our same job, same pay reforms are benefiting more than 8,000 workers. This includes workers at a Queensland mine who had pay increases of up to $60,000 a year, and domestic flight attendants who secured pay increases of up to $20,000 a year. That was by enforcing a pretty simple concept: two people doing the same work should get paid the same amount, and temporary labour hire shouldn't be used to undercut the negotiated pay and conditions of workers.”
“As I've said to many of those industries with male dominated workplaces, 'You're missing out on talent.' The construction industry and many of the trades are missing out on talent because we still have some structural barriers for women to participate. So there is still work to be done, and we will continue to do that work. We are really starting to see enterprise agreement-making increase. Of course, enterprise agreements are really important. Workers and their unions can sit down with their employers and negotiate what the right wages and conditions to have are to meet those workplaces' needs. We are now seeing 2.65 million Australian workers covered by enterprise agreements. This is good news. Our changes that allowed for or improved multi-employer bargaining have led to early educators getting a 15 per cent pay increase.”
“When we look, we see the increases in wages and in enterprise bargaining. We are also closing the gender pay gap, which is at an equal record low of 11.5 per cent. This, of course doesn't happen by accident, and I did want to highlight the investment we are making in breaking down gender segregation in workplaces. In the MYEFO, we were able to continue to support the work done by both employer organisations and trade unions to look at practical ways in which we can break down some of the systemic barriers, as well as the individual supports that can be given to support the breaking down of gender segregation.”
“I am really pleased about and welcome the commitment by the state Labor member. If he and Labor are re-elected in South Australia, they will also contribute $5 million to that project, which, along with a council contribution, will allow a very important update to that sporting facility to be made. We also made a commitment of $5 million for a new important investment in the South Adelaide Football Club, and I am continuing to work with the South Adelaide Football Club to ensure that we get a really, really good upgrade there. In addition to the investments in my local electorate, we continue to make progress in my portfolio of employment and workplace relations. We are starting to see the really significant benefits flowing from our agenda when it comes to making our workplace relations system fairer.”
“Just under 900 people in the southern suburbs have been able to purchase their first home with a five per cent deposit or less. This is really important good news for those people, and that support is really, really important. There is a lot happening, including investment in our local sporting facilities. Work continues to be underway on the Noarlunga aquatic centre. That will be super exciting when it's ready. It has not been updated for decades. That investment from the Commonwealth government, under this Albanese Labor government, is really critical to ensuring people can stay fit and involved in their local community. We're also investing in other facilities, including the Cove Sports and Community Club. We made a commitment at the election to invest $5 million, which will go towards stage 2.”
“I would like to assure Natalia from Flagstaff Hill, who says she loves the new interchange—as a twice daily user, it cuts her work commute by 20 minutes every single day—that the investment we've made is already making a difference. But I can tell you, Natalia, that once that interchange gets connected to that non-stop north-south corridor, it is going to be such an important piece of infrastructure. I'd like to acknowledge everyone working on that piece of infrastructure. It is really important, and we know that investment in this type of infrastructure is nation-building. Labor is really investing in both ensuring that there's more construction of housing and also making it easier for people to get into their first home. The new Help to Buy scheme is having a big impact, including in my electorate.”
“It was great to be joined with some of the action group members at the opening, hearing about how that would not only save time on commute times but also, importantly, potentially save lives, because that piece of road is so much safer. Work continues on the Torrens to Darlington, or T2D, piece of infrastructure. This is so critically important to connect our city and is funded by both the state and the Commonwealth. The Torrens to Darlington non-stop north-south corridor is 78 kilometres of traffic-light-free motorway. This will be so critically important. The down payment of that is the Majors Road interchange, which is now connecting the people of Sheidow Park and Trott Park and Flagstaff Hill and Aberfoyle Park much quicker to South Road.”
“I'm really pleased that additional funding has been made for this very popular urgent care clinic and is now going to be able to stay open longer on weekends and public holidays with boosted capacity during peak periods. This is really important and shows how important these facilities are. Infrastructure is so critically important. As my electorate is an outer metropolitan electorate, we need to make sure we have the infrastructure so people can get to where they need to go faster. Just recently, it was a great pleasure to be at the final opening of the duplication between Seaford and Sellicks. In particular, I was there to open the duplication between Aldinga and Sellicks. This is a really proud investment by both the state government and the Commonwealth, making that piece of road safer.”
“Since our new bulk-billing practice incentive payment was introduced, 10 medical practices in the southern suburbs have become fully bulk-billed, helping to ease the cost-of-living pressures for patients. We also have invested in the Morphett Vale urgent care clinic in the south, and this is a very popular addition to medical infrastructure in the south. We see many people using the urgent care clinic for things that you can't see a GP for or they're not able to treat but that are not quite serious enough to get to the emergency department, and so we're really pleased. I want to share some stories. Keith from Hallett Cove wrote to me to let me know the service at Morphett Vale urgent care clinic was superb, avoiding the inevitable trip to the local emergency department.”
“We have also seen the investment in bulk-billing in the electorate, and I'm proud that our investment is starting to turn around the really concerning numbers that happened under the coalition when they were in government with their complete neglect of Medicare and bulk-billing. I'm pleased to see that the rate of bulk-billing has jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk-billing in 20 years outside of COVID. We as a government promised more bulk-billing, and that is exactly what we're delivering. I want to share a story from John from Christie Downs, who messaged me to say that he was so pleased to find out his local clinic had started bulk-billing again, taking his $80 consult fee down to zero. That is really good news for John but good news for so many residents across the southern suburbs.”
“We know that if the cost of medicine is too high then people will choose not to refill their script or will not actually do what they are directed to, so I am proud to be part of a government that has lowered the cost of scripts on the PBS for everyone with a Medicare card. The maximum co-payment is now the lowest it has been in 20 years, just $25 per script, and it has stayed frozen at $7.70 for concession card holders. This is making a real difference. It builds on our investment and our reform, quite frankly—for example, our quite important reform of 60-day dispensing. These are really important measures making a real difference to people in my electorate.”
“It has had its challenges over the last little while with the unprecedented algae bloom that has been persistent on our beaches. But I have to say, being down on our coastline, it is magnificent. I'd encourage anyone to get down and enjoy the South Australian coastline. There are businesses that are ready to take your order, ready to sell you something, ready to give you an experience that you will enjoy. Of course, in my local electorate, we continue to see really significant investment. I did want to talk a little bit first about the investment in health that our government has made, particularly when it comes to the cost of medicines.”
“I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and related bills. It gives me great pleasure to be speaking on this bill, because this bill is the next bill to actually focus on our government's agenda of delivery. Our government has been delivering and delivering, and I'm really very proud of that. I want to start by speaking about delivery in my local electorate in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. I'm going to have to disagree with the minister for infrastructure. I think the southern suburbs of Adelaide is the most beautiful place in Australia and, indeed, probably the world. It is the gateway to the Fleurieu Peninsula, with an incredible coastline and beaches that run from Hallett Cove all the way down to Maslin Beach. It's a wonderful community to live, work and raise a family in.”
“Telling people like Alicia she isn't equal and she doesn't deserve the same pay as her colleagues. Our government is ensuring workers on digital platforms have access to a decent standard of living that other workers enjoy—workers like Melbourne delivery driver Eric, who told the ABC in November that our changes are going to make a huge difference to easing cost-of-living pressures. What did the Leader of the Opposition do when these laws were proposed? Well, he went to the HR Nicholls Society and said that gig workers having minimum standards of pay would be disastrous. The Leader of the Opposition has consistently championed repealing our fairer laws and consistently tried to make life harder for Alicia, Jacob and Eric and workers right across Australia.”
“It was therefore very, very disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition jumped to reject this proposal on ABC I nsiders , where he said, well, obviously, he would undo the right to disconnect. Now, of course, the government also introduced same job, same pay laws which legislated a very, very simple principle: two people doing the same job should be paid the same. This reform is delivering pay increases to more than 8,000 workers right across Australia—workers like Alicia, a flight attendant who is now getting a 20 per cent pay increase. Alicia said, 'I feel like I'm an equal; I feel like I'm valued now.' While our government is delivering for people like Alicia, the Leader of the Opposition slammed this change, claiming it was dangerous, and characterised it as un-Australian. Well, Mr Speaker, do you know what is un-Australian?”
“I'd like to thank the member for Gorton for her question. It was wonderful to join her with workers that keep Melbourne Airport going just recently. Now, two years ago our government introduced historic reforms to improve pay, job security and working conditions for Australians. These reforms included the right to disconnect, allowing Australians to unplug after hours guilt free. Jacob, a science teacher, said that this change helped him rediscover his passion for education and said, 'It eased our workload pressure so that we can better focus our energies on what we do best: teaching.' This reform is being embraced by both workers and employers, with more than half of businesses surveyed by the HR Institute indicating the right to disconnect improved employee engagement and productivity.”
“He has regularly championed individual agreements that we know make the gender pay gap worse compared to enterprise agreements. Of course, he handpicked Senator Hume, the new shadow minister for employment, who should otherwise be known as the shadow minister for unemployment because the first thing she was going to do was sack 41,000 people in this country. Senator Hume has also railed against wage increases for workers, claiming to Sky News in 2024 that a wage increase for minimum award wage earners would be, 'the worst thing for Australians'. They may have changed their leadership team, but they haven't changed their spots. These Liberals are never good for working Australians.”
“We sought to reinvigorate enterprise bargaining, which is now delivering results. Workers covered by enterprise agreements are enjoying the strongest wages growth in the nation, rising by 9.6 per cent on average over just the last two years. I'm also asked about the biggest risk to Australian workers. Well, it's no surprise that the biggest risk to Australian workers is right over on the other side. The new Liberal leadership team features the shadow Treasurer, who made clear his deep disregard for jobs for Australians when he argued for the removal of the RBA's dual mandate. The new Leader of the Opposition has a long history of opposing every single one of our measures to create secure jobs and better pay for working Australians.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Barton for her question and her commitment to working Australians right across this country. Of course, the Albanese Labor government is focused on creating more jobs and getting wages moving for working people. Our government has achieved the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in 50 years, and more than 1.2 million jobs have been created since our government was elected. At the same time as we are creating jobs, we're making sure that these jobs are well paid and secure. To support our lowest paid workers, our Labor government has made a submission to the Fair Work Commission each and every year since we've been in government advocating for a wage increase. Of course, under this Labor government, minimum wage earners are on average $9,000 a year better off.”
“On page 34, when talking about their work from home policy, it says the Liberals were unsympathetic to the needs of women to better balance their work and family life. But not even the voter backlash could change Senator Hume's opinion.”
“It was taken by those opposite exactly one year ago today. One year ago today, the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party made a big announcement in a keynote speech that the coalition, if elected, would ban working from home. This policy would have cost workers more than $5,000 a year, on average, in extra living expenses. And when the coalition was asked what would they do about workplace flexibility, remember what they said? They would force women into part-time job-sharing arrangements. That was their answer. You'd think the new Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party would have learnt her lesson. The Liberals' own election review slammed this proposal—and I thank the Prime Minister for tabling it, but we all had a copy.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Newcastle for that question, and for her passion in helping Australians balance their work and family life over many years. The Albanese Labor government has made significant changes to ensure that Australians can balance their work and life. Our secure jobs, better pay laws strengthen access to flexible work, making it easier for workers to request flexible arrangements like working from home. Analysis by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia suggests working from home saves Australians, on average, $110 per week in transport costs. We know that greater workplace flexibility helps ease cost-of-living pressures and, of course, it improves workforce participation, especially for women. I am asked if there are any other approaches. Yes, there certainly is another approach.”