TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
The Morrison Government must do more to support all of Australia’s casual workers and insecure workers – not just those who work for it in the public service.
Labor welcomes news that the Community and Public Sector Union has won paid leave for more than 8000 public service casuals if they are affected by coronavirus.
That includes 850 casuals who work for the Department of Home Affairs – including casual Australian Border Force officers on the frontlines of this crisis. Just yesterday, Labor wrote to Peter Dutton to call on the Government to fix this issue.
That means these APS employees will be able to take time off if they’re sick or need to self-isolate, and won’t face a financial penalty.
It’s great the Government has finally realised this is a necessary step to help contain the spread of this virus.
But it also begs the question: what about the 3.3 million other Australians in casual or insecure work?
Five days after the Morrison Government announced its first stimulus package they are still silent on support for casuals.
It’s now increasingly clear this crisis will have a devastating impact for many Australians who don’t have the security of a permanent job or steady, reliable hours.
While Labor is supportive of the Government’s stimulus package, on this issue it is falling well short of what’s needed – and Scott Morrison cannot stay silent on this any longer.
Under the Government’s approach, casuals have a clear financial incentive to turn up to work when they’re sick or should be in isolation. This will hinder our chances of containing this virus and flattening the curve in the weeks and months ahead.
We cannot have a situation where people are forced to choose between looking after their co-workers and putting food on the table.
The ACTU’s proposal for paid special leave is one option that could fix this problem but the Government has rejected it. If it has a different way of fixing the problem they should announce it urgently – but the status quo is unsustainable.
TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 2020
