I rise to speak on this motion as a proud unionist. Unions are essential to the protection and advancement of workers' rights in this country. They ensure that the economic, social and environmental interests of workers are protected. All Australian workers should receive fair pay for fair work, but the reality is that many workers are falling through the gaps of our industrial relations system because they have been hamstrung by successive governments, who've denied them the right to collectively bargain across sectors.

Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, says workers deserve to be safe at work, backing ACTU calls to ensure worker safety.

Bandt, a former industrial relations lawyer, rejected the claim by some employers that the demands were a threat to business, saying that ensuring workers’ safety is the best way to keep businesses going as the virus continues to spread.

Quotes attributable to Greens leader, Adam Bandt MP:

“If a workplace is unsafe, workers have the right to stop work. 

Australian Greens Leader and former industrial relations lawyer, Adam Bandt, has outlined how the radical overhaul at the heart of the IR omnibus bill will entrench insecure work. Bandt says the controversy over the terrible ‘Better Off Overall Test’ change has unfortunately distracted from the extreme nature of other reforms in the bill.
 
“This bill will redefine the Australian labour market,” said Dr Bandt.

Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt says the party’s 9 votes in the Senate will oppose the Government’s industrial relations omnibus Bill. 

“The Greens have a clear position on the government's IR bill. We oppose this bill because it cuts pay and makes job insecurity worse,” said Mr Bandt. 

“The Greens will block this bill in the Senate.

“The frontline workers who helped us through the pandemic deserve a medal, not a pay cut.

“Why would you weaken the ‘better off’ test unless you wanted to make people worse off?