HANSARD EXTRACT
|
Statements by Members: Workplace Relations |
| 15 September 2005 |
Mr HAYES
(Werriwa) (9.55 a.m.)—I
am gravely concerned about the future of those Australians currently
receiving welfare payments under this government’s extreme agenda.
Surprisingly, in this case I am not referring to the bungled attempt
to implement the Welfare to Work program that is more aptly
described as the welfare to lower welfare program. I am concerned
about the impact that the government’s industrial relations agenda
may have on pensioners. Some members may wonder why I would be
concerned for the future income security of the most vulnerable in
our society when considered through the prism of the industrial
relations changes. They may wonder what impact slashing wages and
working conditions will have on people receiving age, single parent,
disability support, war widows and service pensions.
Those among us who are not so out of touch with
our constituents will know exactly how the government’s industrial
relations obsession may well affect pensioners. Many pensions and
other social security payments are benchmarked to 25 per cent of
male total average weekly earnings. This means that movements in the
wages of working Australians flow on to pensions. This, of course,
means that the wage impact of the industrial relations changes will
also flow on to pensioners. Government members opposite may scoff at
this suggestion and claim that it could not possibly be the case,
but they would be wrong on this occasion. Over recent years
Australian pension recipients have experienced increases in their
pensions at rates higher than the growth of inflation because of
real wage growth. Sadly, it is not to the full extent of the much
claimed but largely unproven 14 per cent increase that the Prime
Minister crows about—but, then again, very few of us have
experienced such growth.
Future increases in payments to 40,000
pensioners in the south-west of
Sydney are at risk because of the government’s extreme industrial
relations agenda. More than 22,000 of those live in my electorate. I
know this government cares little about the plight of Australian
workers and Australian families, but I would have thought it would
be willing to leave the poor and the elderly alone. The government’s
extreme, unnecessary and unfair industrial relations agenda has
managed to produce another set of victims. It is not enough that the
government has unionists, building and construction workers and
university staff in its sights; now, in a nasty side effect of its
so-called reforms, those least able to afford it will also face real
cuts to their incomes. While elderly and retired Australians are
concerned for the working conditions of their children and
grandchildren, they should now start worrying about their own
financial futures. (Time expired)
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