ANTI-WORKER LAWS DEFEATED IN THE SENATE

Scott Morrison’s anti-worker union-bashing laws have been defeated in the Senate – and should now be abandoned.

These were extreme laws that would have given the Government unprecedented powers, unparalleled anywhere in the developed world, to sack union officials and shut down entire unions for minor breaches.

The Government arrogantly believed they had this vote in the bag – but the Senate has delivered them a humiliating rejection.

This was a week in which Scott Morrison sought to impose standards on unions that he refused to impose on banks or members of his own Cabinet.

Throughout this debate, Labor has been proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian workers and the unions that represent them.

From the largest unions like the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation to the smallest volunteer-run unions – Labor stood with them to resist this attack on their capacity to organise.

These are the organisations that fight for higher wages, combat wage theft and exploitation and keep workers safe.

Labor thanks the crossbenchers who voted with us to oppose these dangerous and extreme laws.

But while this Bill has been defeated, workers should not rest easy.

This has always been two-stage attack from the Government.

This year, the Government has gone after the organisations that represent, protect and fight for workers.

Starting next year, they will come after workers’ pay and conditions directly. The Liberals are already talking about watering down unfair dismissal laws and scrapping the Better Off Overall Test.

THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2019