Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (17:57): I am delighted to speak in support of the Industrial Relations Amendment (Transport Sector Gig Workers and Others) Bill 2025. I acknowledge that the Minister for Industrial Relations is in the Chamber, and I thank her and her team for bringing this bill to the House. I will not go into too much detail because the Minister has already done so, but I will tell a couple of stories that highlight the importance of industrial relations and industrial relations law reform. Strong industrial relations laws ensure that our workers get what they need and deserve, which is a safe environment to work and operate in so they return home safely at the end of the day.
I am a very proud member of the Transport Workers' Union, and have been since I left the Australian Regular Army as a veteran. I was working at Sydney airport when Ansett went broke. The late former Senator Steve Hutchins was the union secretary at the time and Tony Sheldon took over after Steve entered the Senate. When Ansett went broke, we had a fight on our hands. With the House's indulgence, I will tell the story. We had to fight for the Australian transport workers. It was a shocking time. I acknowledge that the Hon. Daniel Mookhey also fought very hard on that campaign. It was an enlightening time for me, having spent my formative years from the age of 17 in the army. Thankfully, I was welcomed by my union, of which I am proud to be a member to this day. When we talk about veterans issues and workers, such things are important to acknowledge.
I return to the bill. Many members have already spoken about the amendments to chapter 6. While in opposition, Daniel Mookhey, Adam Searle and the member for Canterbury worked very hard to see these amendments come to fruition. They were opposed at that time. However, I am delighted to know that Opposition members, as I am advised, are not opposing the bill. I thank them for that.
Mr Edmond Atalla: No, they are opposing it.
Mr GREG WARREN: They are opposing it?
Mr Edmond Atalla: Yes. Silly Opposition.
Mr GREG WARREN: I was just talking to an Opposition member outside, and they said they were supporting the bill, so I am not really sure what they are doing. I am shocked, because every worker deserves to have laws in place to protect them. This amendment to chapter 6 ensures that it will happen. I urge members opposite to think realistically about how this position will impact their political agenda. They should think about what they can do to put provisions in place for workers. At the end of the day, this is a protection for workers. We have gig workers now, but we did not in the past. When I say "the past", I mean over the past 10 years. The bill ensures there are provisions for those workers.
This issue was first brought to my attention when I was shadow Minister for Local Government, shadow Minister for Veterans, and shadow Minister for Western Sydney. It was the Hon. Charlie Lynn, who was a Liberal member in the upper House, who first brought it to my attention. We met in the Parkes Room with two blokes who were bread deliverers. At that time, there was no protection for those workers because milk, bread and cream carters were not protected under the Act. Why? When I was growing up, our milk was delivered by small businesses. They were willing to take the risk, and they did not want to be covered by the Act. However, things changed. There was the Tip Top matter, which I will come back to. With the indulgence of the House, I will include some references and quotes.
At the end of the day, this legislation is about providing support to workers who are out there having a go at a time when everyone is finding it very difficult to survive financially. These people are some of the lowest paid workers in society. Members opposite should really think about that. This Parliament is at its best when members come together to do the right thing. This is the right thing to do. There is no substantiated economic impact to anyone else. The bill amends the legislation to provide workers with protections that every other worker enjoys at this time. If it is good enough for the existing workers to enjoy those protections, then it is fair enough that this Parliament reacts to a new workforce. Actually, the workforce is not very new. It has taken a bit of time to get here, but we should do the right thing.
I said earlier that I would refer to some quotes. Mark Goldfinch and Paul Clapson pointed to the deadly pressure that rate cuts place on owner-drivers like themselves. Companies—I will not mention a specific company—have gotten away with slashing rates that drivers depend on. For years, drivers have worked on public holidays, losing that time with their families. They are lucky to even have a break. Owner-driver John Kiernan told7.30:
The feeling in your guts, the knots and panic attacks I get—it's like a heart burn—
He went further:
Someone will either be on the road and lose their life or through stress or something else.
That pressure has pushed transport workers to the brink, forcing them to work longer hours and forgo vehicle maintenance, devastating their mental health. When we were in opposition, my colleagues and I called on the former Government to act. It did not act. Tonight, Opposition members have the opportunity to correct that. I was in opposition for eight years. I get that Opposition members want to oppose everything from the Government. They want to have the bravado of slamming down the Government. Trust me, any government will provide opportunities for an opposition to do that. However, this is not such an opportunity. These people need help, and members need to come together to provide the support those people need and deserve. [Extension of time]
To cut a long story short, the matter before us has been going on for a very long time. People need this legislation for a safe workplace and conditions. We can accomplish that tonight. I urge the Opposition to rethink its position on the bill. Opposition members often refer to our "union mates". Yes, these are my union mates. I am a very proud member of the Transport Workers' Union. I was a coal truck driver, and the union helped me after I left the Australian Regular Army. I went on to do further studies in business, law and commerce, but I was very humbled, and I will never forget how I was welcomed into the family and supported. I was also welcomed and supported by Caltex, airport fuel services and the whole industry at that time. It was a good demonstration that when we work together and do the right thing, we help people.
In closing, I say that the pursuit of prosperity for every worker in this State is the enduring responsibility of every member of Parliament. I am a proud Labor member, and the cause of the great party must forever prevail. I know that that is something that members opposite may not subscribe to. However, I trust in them. Whilst they do not subscribe to my point, they think about the causes of people who need help. We must provide that help. Tonight the Opposition has that opportunity.
