Address to the Federation Chamber, Adjournment

Thursday 7 November 2024

The SDA has launched a groundbreaking case at the Fair Work Commission to abolish junior rates for workers aged 18 years and older. If successful, the case will lift wages for young workers in supermarkets, drive-throughs and pharmacies across the country. These changes would not only increase minimum wages within these sectors but also impact other enterprise agreements that currently include junior rates. At the heart of this case, however, is that these 18- and 19-year-old workers are adults that deserve to be paid accordingly. Indeed, in many cases, these young workers are paid 30 per cent less for performing the same tasks as their older coworkers. Put more simply, if you're an adult, you should earn an adult wage no matter what. The SDA also highlights that young Australians face the same living costs as everyone else but are unfairly compensated in terms of wages. As SDA national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, has pointed out, 18-year-olds are adults. They do not receive a discount on their rent or bills because they happen to be 18. This disparity in pay is discriminatory and out of touch with the cost of living. The SDA's campaign aims to build public support for fair wages and underscores the importance of treating workers equitably. This is a campaign that everyone in this House should be able to get around and support, wherever your electorate might be in this country.