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.”

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to ditch Tony Abbott’s hardline bargaining policy for public sector workers and negotiate with public servants to ensure they get the wages and conditions they deserve.

“Malcolm Turnbull speaks about respecting our public servants, yet as Prime Minister he has continued Tony Abbott’s hardline bargaining policy for the public sector,” Mr Bandt said.

Following Minister for Women Michaelia Cash’s comments on flexibility for women re-entering the workforce during the ‘International Women’s Day Address’, Greens Employment & Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today called on Minister Cash to get behind the Greens’ plan to give people more control over their work/life balance.

“Minister for Women Michaelia Cash talked big on making employers consider flexible workplace arrangements for women during her ‘International Women’s Day Address’ today, yet didn’t commit to how she would do it,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Treasury spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said unemployment figures released today showing joblessness rising to 6 per cent, coupled with Treasurer Scott Morrison’s visionless accounting lecture yesterday, should ring alarm bells.

“Unemployment rising to 6 per cent coupled with Treasurer Scott Morrison’s visionless rambling yesterday should ring alarm bells for everyone who wants a secure and meaningful job,” Mr Bandt said.

“Yesterday the Treasurer promised a vision for supporting people in a transitioning economy but all we got was a bad accounting lecture.”

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today moved for the House of Representatives to decline the ABCC bill and instead support establishing a national broad-based anti-corruption watchdog that would have the power to investigate corruption wherever it occurs. “Malcolm Turnbull should walk away from his plan to give construction workers fewer rights than alleged criminals and instead establish a national broad-based anti-corruption watchdog,” Mr Bandt said.