Page 1010 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
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Madam Speaker, the enthusiasm for denying workers rights I see in the opposition has distracted me.
This bill will set a new standard for workplace rights in this territory, in this country. For those with their eyes on history I am told we are doing something here today that the greatest of American presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, failed at with the second bill of rights, his workers bill of rights in 1944.
By enshrining workers rights in the Human Rights Act we are saying that workers rights are basic human rights. We are recognising that the right to a decent job, decent conditions and decent pay, the right to dignity, the right to provide for a family—all these things are fundamental. We are saying that these things should come before the speculator, the investor, the banker and the balance sheet.
Unions fought for the golden 8-8-8—eight hours of work, eight hours of play, eight hours of rest. Today we see that the eight-hour day is a rarity. We spend more time in our workplace than most anywhere else in the world does and, therefore, we need to make sure that workers are protected. For years we have been trying to patch up our federal industrial relations scheme. Those rules are continuing to fail to protect working people. By using the Human Rights Act to protect workers rights we are reconfirming that workers have rights.
I agree that maybe there are some things in my bill that could be done better, and I look forward to supporting the government amendments that Mr Rattenbury will be moving shortly. I think they strengthen the bill and I think they provide added protection for workers.
Expanding the Human Rights Act will cost good bosses nothing but will make bad bosses pay. The law should not be a protection racket for wage thieves or those who would risk the lives of their employees—wherever. However we can, we should be protecting workers rights, and we will. I am about protecting workers. Those opposite are about attacking workers. This bill will protect workers.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety, Minister for Corrections and Minister for Mental Health) (4.29): I seek leave to move amendments to this bill which have not been circulated to members pursuant to standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
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