Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Ministers statements: sick pay guarantee

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, Minister for Employment, Minister for Public Transport) (14:21): I also rise to speak about 13 – 13 March. Labour Day is a very important day for this side of the house, when we celebrate 8 hours work, 8 hours recreation and 8 hours – you know what it is, until the ding-dong comes for you, mate; it is just going to be up before you know – 8 hours rest. For those opposite, we know who is going to be put to rest pretty soon.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance. As much as it pains me to interrupt that attempt at humour, I would ask you to bring the minister back to the question.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will address his comments through the Chair.

Ben CARROLL: I will start from the beginning. March 13 is a very important day on this side of the house: 8 hours work, rest and recreation, because we know right back in 1856 what that meant for the people that were working on Melbourne University – the stonemasons – when they did that march. That labour reform is here today. It was on another Labour Day that the Andrews Labor government, this Premier, announced the sick pay guarantee scheme.

I would not be talking about insecure work if I were you, Leader of the Opposition.

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair.

Ben CARROLL: Now, the sick pay guarantee scheme is not designed for politicians. It is designed for cleaners, security guards, our most vulnerable workers, but we are always open to expanding it if we need to, and we have made that very clear. It is very important giving casual and contract workers permanency, because we know, as the pandemic showed, when you go to work sick it is not good for the economy, not good for the community and not good for you. This is a groundbreaking reform that has been nation-leading by the Andrews Labor government, and we are calling on others to follow suit, including the Commonwealth government. What did the other side have to say about this?

The Age, of all days not 13 March but 14:

State opposition –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ben CARROLL: I think he thinks it’s Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Remember Dickie Knee?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier and the Leader of the Opposition will stop trading barbs across the table, and I remind you that members are to be referred to by their correct titles. The minister to be heard in silence.

Ben CARROLL: It says:

Victorian deputy Liberal leader David Southwick said –

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister knows that question time is not an opportunity to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: Is the minister coming back to his statement?

Ben CARROLL: When asked if they would scrap the sick pay guarantee scheme, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition said he would.