Local casual workers in Blair will have a clearer pathway to permanent work, while gig workers and truckies will benefit from minimum standards after the Senate passed the second part of the Albanese Government’s workplace legislation yesterday.
The new Closing Loopholes laws will:
- end the concept of a permanent casual by providing a proper pathway for casuals seeking to convert to more secure permanent work;
- introduce world-leading minimum standards for 135,000 gig economy workers, such as rideshare drivers and delivery riders;
- ensure a safe, sustainable and viable trucking industry; and
- stopping unpaid overtime for workers through unreasonable contact out of hours.
Last year, the Government changed the law to criminalise wage theft and stop the underpayment of workers through the use of labour hire. Now the Government has closed more workplace loopholes that have been undermining wages.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann welcomed that the Albanese Labor Government has now closed a range of workplace loopholes so workers in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area will be better off.
“I know many people in our community are doing it tough right now dealing with the cost of living,” he said.
“These new laws will finally provide minimum standards for local gig workers, key road transport industry reforms for truckies, and a better deal for casual workers who want to become permanent.
“Rent, mortgage, bills, groceries and dependents aren’t casual, so we’re making sure casual workers have more rights to secure permanent work if they want it.
“There are more than 260,000 casual employees in the Greater Brisbane area, including Ipswich and the Somerset Region, and they will have more choice as a result of these changes.
“We have also delivered on our promise to ensure gig workers have access to the same basic minimum standards as other workers.
