Greens Employment and Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that workers and their families across Australia will be relieved to hear that their weekend penalty rates are safe until at least December but that legislation is needed to protect people’s weekend rates into the future. Mr Bandt called on Labor and the Coalition to back the Greens’ call to enshrine existing penalty rates in legislation.

Greens Employment & Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today welcomed the High Court’s decision to rule against the government’s attempt to give fewer rights at work to people working on gas and oil projects in Australian waters and said the High Court has delivered the government a huge setback on day two of the new Parliament.

“The Greens welcome the High Court’s decision to stop the government removing rights at work from people working on offshore oil and gas projects in Australian seas,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Employment & Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the government’s proposal for changes to workplace laws may not help the exploited 7-Eleven workers, nor prevent future widespread exploitation in franchises.

Following the second week of the campaign beginning by focussing on the parties' differences on penalty rates, Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has released a campaign video to ensure voters know that only the Greens will protect people's weekend rates of pay.

In light of 7-Eleven management sacking the independent Fels Wage Fairness Panel, Greens Employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today called on the government and Labor to get behind the Greens’ bill to make head offices legally responsible for the pay and conditions of the workers in its franchises.

“The latest action by 7-Eleven head office shows the need to change the law to hold large corporations to account and prevent future 7-Eleven style rampant worker exploitation,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has said that reports that 7-Eleven has closed down the Fels Wage Fairness Panel are deeply concerning and called on 7-Eleven to immediately reveal how they will ensure exploited workers are paid what they deserve.

Greens Industry spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Australian auto industry has crashed because Labor and the Liberals have been asleep at the wheel. In February last year the Greens proposed a plan to allow new carmakers and component manufacturers to access the existing hundreds of millions of dollars allocated in the Automative Transformation Scheme if they were manufacturing vehicles or parts for electric or alternative fuel vehicles, or parts for renewables.  Neither Labor nor the Liberals supported the move.

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today joined Greens candidate for Grayndler Jim Casey to announce that the Greens will legislate to protect penalty rates. The Fair Work Commission is expected to make a decision about whether to cut Sunday penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers in the coming months.

Greens Industry spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said Labor’s plan to supposedly save the Australian steel industry by ‘maximising’ local steel used in government projects is too weak and called on Labor to add a seventh point: ‘Don’t sign the Trans Pacific Partnership’.

“The Australian steel industry is under threat and thousands of people across Australia working in the industry lack certainty about the future of their jobs,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Greens will fight the government’s moves to override a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal ruling on pay for truck drivers.

“The Greens are concerned that the government’s push will make our roads less safe,” Mr Bandt said.

“The Greens supported establishing the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal because everyone deserves a safe workplace and everyone wants our roads to be safe.”