Yearly Parliamentary Report

Since the election, the NSW Labor Government has been working very hard to repay the trust the electorate placed in us on 25 March 2023. As a Labor movement, we should never take the electorate and the people who rely on us for granted. In the short space of just over 12 months, the Minns Labor Government has honoured many of our core headline election promises.

The Minns Labor Government is also getting on with the job of addressing the cost of living difficulties faced by the community. Housing reform is at the core of this, with preschool fee relief, toll and energy bill relief and the First Home Buyers scheme also contributing measures.

In the 39 days and 384 hours of Parliamentary sittings in 2023 after the election, the new Minns Labor Government passed more than 50 bills. I spoke in Parliament more than 180 times!
 
Here are some highlights from last year- 

Parliamentary Secretary

In April last year, I was honoured to be announced as the Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Parliamentary Secretary for Work Health and Safety and Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism.
 
In this role, I work closely with the Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, as well as the Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper.

Leading on bills

As part of my role as a Parliamentary Secretary, I often lead bills in the Upper House on behalf of Ministers. Examples of these bills include:

If you would like to learn more, click the hyperlinks in the list above. 

Please see below a video of me speaking on the bill creating stronger penalties for people who assault retail workers:

Industrial Relations portfolio

 An important piece of legislation introduced by Minister Sophie Cotsis in 2023 was the Industrial Relations Amendment Bill. In my contribution to the debate, I outlined the great wins of this bill for the people of NSW, including lifting the wage cap for good, establishing a specialised Industrial Court and Commission, and creating a fairer process for negotiating wages. These reforms could not be more critical after 12 long years of the Liberals and Nationals putting workers last. You can watch my speech here or read it here.
 
Minister Sophie Cotsis has announced that industrial manslaughter laws will be introduced to Parliament this year following a consultation process. I spoke about this in Parliament, referencing the case of young Christopher Cassaniti, who tragically died at work after scaffolding collapsed. When I was an Apprentice Electrician I was almost killed due to negligence in the workplace, so I understand how critical this legislation is. If you want to hear about my experience, click here. Industrial manslaughter laws will ensure that corporations and their directors can be held liable for deaths in the workplace. You can read my speech on the proposed legislation here or watch it here.
If you want to stay updated on the proposed new laws, please check out this page. 

STANDING UP FOR WORKERS 

Qantas

I have continued to stand with the Transport Workers’ Union and advocate for workers who Qantas have treated appallingly.
 
During the pandemic, Qantas sacked almost 1,700 ground workers despite receiving billions of taxpayer dollars to retain jobs and keep the airline afloat. The Federal Court ruled twice that sacking these workers during the pandemic was illegal as Qantas deliberately prevented workers from utilising their workplace rights. In September 2023, the High Court dismissed Qantas' appeal unanimously. This case has sent employers across Australia a clear message that they cannot get away with stopping workers from exercising their legal rights to bargain and take industrial action. To learn more, you can read my speeches here and here or watch them here or below:

In November 2023, Qantas was again found guilty in court over an industrial matter, this time over the illegal sacking of health and safety representative Theo Seremetidis. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, Theo told his colleagues to stop cleaning and servicing potentially COVID-19-infected planes as they were concerned Qantas had not provided them with appropriate cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment or training. Qantas then stood down Theo. The decision finding Qantas’ action illegal is unprecedented and momentous as it sends a clear message to all health and safety representatives that the law will protect them while they carry out their role. I congratulate Theo for his heroism in standing up for what is right, as well as his union, the Transport Workers’ Union, for bringing the matter to SafeWork's attention. You can read my speech here and here or watch it here or below:

I also spoke at a press conference about the verdict, which was reported on by 10 News. 

Seafarers’ wage theft issue and recovery actions

 In Parliament, I raised attention to the “Nowhere to Hide” week of action in support of Seafarers. This important campaign was run by the Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers' Federation. The work of seafarers largely goes unnoticed by the public but is essential for the functioning of our maritime trade routes, with 99% of our exports transported by sea. As seafarers work across jurisdictions and are isolated out at sea, many seafarers deal with exploitation at the hands of shipowners. Over the week of action, inspectors from the International Transport Workers' Federation inspected 77 ships coming into port in New South Wales, giving shipowners "Nowhere to Hide" if they were breaking the rules. You can read my speech here or watch it here. 

Cleanaway

Cleanaway waste collection workers have long fought to improve their pay and conditions and ease chronic driver shortages. In Parliament, I got support for a motion recognising Cleanaway workers' strikes, the essential work they perform daily, and the national campaign run by the Transport Workers’ Union aiming to raise standards for waste collection workers. You can read my speech here and here or watch it here.

Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo workers

 In late 2022, Taronga Western Plains Zoo workers in Dubbo undertook industrial action, fed up with 18 months of payroll issues, including overdue and incorrect pay and miscalculated leave. Seven months later, in June 2023, it was revealed that Taronga Zoo had underpaid over 900 workers in Dubbo and Sydney around $2.6 million over six years. I commended the Australian Workers’ Union in Parliament for their ongoing advocacy for Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo workers. You can read my speech here or watch it here.

Health Industry Unions

 The Health Services Union had a number of wins last year that I recognised in Parliament, including:

  • Increased salary packaging for Health Services Union members from 50 per cent to 70 per cent, with the Government committed to achieving 100 per cent salary packaging during the first term,

  • A record-breaking agreement providing paramedics an average wage increase of 25% over four years,

  • Back pay for Scalabrini workers who were entitled to an additional public holiday over the Christmas holidays in 2022 but did not receive it,

  • Back pay for Opal HealthCare workers who were owed additional annual leave entitlements,

  • Infectious cleaning allowance back pay for operations assistants across the Hunter New England Local Health District, and

  • Safe staffing levels for night shifts at the Peakhurst Lodge nursing home.

In addition, I highlighted the division between Health Services Union and Australian Paramedics Association members, another union representing NSW Ambulance workers, speaking of reports that the Australian Paramedics Association has repeatedly attempted to undermine Health Services Union campaigns. You can read my speech here or watch it here. 

Celebrating new apprentices

In Parliament, I recognised the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union, Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, Fire Industry Training and Service Trade College Australia apprenticeship awards and graduation dinner. I was honoured to attend the event representing the Premier Chris Minns and the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong.  Over 60 plumber and sprinkler fitter apprentices graduated at the ceremony, and awards were presented to those who achieved academic attainment, showed excellence in their coursework and maintained a good attitude. You can read my speech here or watch it here. 

TAFE

 As a product of TAFE myself, having graduated as an Electrician in 1986, I am a strong advocate for restoring TAFE. I spoke in Parliament on a motion calling out the former Liberal and National Government for dramatically cutting TAFE funding. You can read my speech here or watch it here. 

Work Health and Safety portfolio

Working safe in NSW

 In my first speech as a Parliamentary Secretary, I noted a key area of reform needed in the Work Health and Safety portfolio is to SafeWork NSW. I explained that a review into SafeWork NSW was in progress and the work done by Minister Sophie Cotsis while in Opposition to make this happen. I also outlined Labor's many election promises in the portfolio, many of which have already been acted upon. You can read my speech here or watch it here. You can also check out the final report here.
 
Over the sitting year, I made several speeches on important work health and safety initiatives and actions, including:

If you would like to learn more, click the hyperlinks in the list above. 
 
I also recognised graduating Inspectors at SafeWork NSW in Parliament. SafeWork NSW inspectors are vital to keep our workplaces safe. You can read my speech here or watch it here.

Welding fumes

 Welding fumes are dangerous to workers’ health, considered carcinogenic and linked to several other health problems. In June 2023, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union announced the start of its "Lower Limit, Live Longer" campaign, advocating for a reduction in the limit to welding fumes allowed in workplaces around Australia, following many years of advocacy on the issue. On 6 September 2023, SafeWork Australia agreed to a recommendation to reduce the permitted limit of welding fumes, which is the first change to the limit since it was created over 30 years ago. I recognised this significant win of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union in Parliament. You can read more here or watch my contribution here. 

Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District Memorial Day Service

I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District annual Memorial Day Service representing Minister Sophie Cotsis. In Parliament, I spoke about how the service honoured those who had died in the local area due to coal mining. Mine workers, unionists, members of local communities, State and Federal members of Parliament, local mayors, representatives from regulators and the industry and, most importantly, many families, attended the touching service to remember loved ones lost. You can read my speech here or watch it here.

Exposure to dangerous dust

 I was concerned to hear that Australian Workers’ Union representatives on the John Holland Rozelle Interchange site were stopped from using dust monitoring devices after historical tests showed unsafe levels of dust. Works on the site involved cutting into sandstone containing silica, so the high levels of dust particles picked up on the devices would likely have included very dangerous silica dust. I lent my support to the Australian Workers’ Union in Parliament, noting the importance of union representatives being allowed to exercise their workplace rights and therefore protect workers’ safety. You can read my speech here or watch it here. 

Workers Compensation Premiums

 I spoke in Parliament about Minister Sophie Cotsis stepping in to prevent an over 20% increase in average workers compensation premiums that would have hugely impacted small businesses. This came about as a result of the Liberals and Nationals failing to make adequate increases to workers compensation premiums over an 8-year period. You can read my speech here or watch it here.

Multiculturalism portfolio

It is hard to overstate the importance of Australia’s and NSW’s embracement of multiculturalism in enriching us as a nation, a state and a society. By actively encouraging other cultures, religions and traditions to be part of our society, we broaden our perspective and become better people and grow intellectually and spiritually both as individual human beings and as a collective whole.  

It is therefore a great pleasure and honour to be the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism in NSW. 

Advocating for multicultural communities in NSW

 I have strongly advocated in Parliament for our multicultural communities. In one speech, I spoke against unfair blame put on our multicultural communities regarding housing shortages. You can watch my speech below or read it here.

Celebrating multicultural events

I recognised in Parliament many fantastic multicultural events I attended as the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, often representing Minister Steve Kamper and the Premier Chris Minns, including:

Click the hyperlinks in the above to read my speeches. 

Zimbabwe Association in Australia NSW Gala Dinner

When I attended the Zimbabwe Association in Australia NSW Gala Dinner, I was moved by a poem about self-acceptance and belonging written by 10-year-old Learose Nyoni. It was wonderful to have Learose and her family, as well as representatives from ZIMAA and LangDentity language school, visit Parliament, where I recited the beautiful poem. You can read the speech here or watch it here. 

Human rights issues in Iran

 In addition, I have spoken in Parliament about human rights issues in Iran. You can read my speech here or watch it here.

Duty electorates 

Former duty electorates

 In Parliament, I commended the hard work of the candidates in my former duty electorates, three of which were won and allowed us to form government: Sally Quinnell, the new local member for Camden, Maryanne Stuart, the new local member for Heathcote and Nathan Hagarty, the new local member for Leppington. You can read my speech here or watch it here.
 
I also mentioned my former duty electorates of Camden and Leppington in a speech on the former Liberal and National Government’s tollmania. In the speech, I spoke about how often the cost of tolls was brought up by locals when doorknocking for the election. The NSW Minns Labor Government has instituted a $60 per week toll cap to provide toll relief for the community. You can read my speech here or watch it here and here. To claim toll relief, please check out this page. I have also spoken many times in Parliament about the poor fiscal position the Liberals and Nationals left our state in. You can watch my speech here or read it here.
 
Although Labor did not win the seats of Bathurst and Orange, the candidates Cameron Shaw and Heather Dunn, their teams, local branch members and families fought very hard and ran great campaigns in tough areas for Labor. I expressed my deep admiration and appreciation for Cameron and Heather’s work in Parliament, you can read my speech here or watch it here.

Visits to my new Duty Electorates

 My new duty electorates are Terrigal, Drummoyne and Wollondilly.
 
Information sharing is an important part of being a Duty MLC. On 27 August 2023, I sent out a media release to local media in all three of my duty electorates, encouraging community organisations and local councils to submit their grant applications for the Community Building Partnership (CBP) program.
 
For more information on my activities in each duty seat, please see below-

Terrigal

Once I had been made the Duty MLC for Terrigal, I organised a meeting with Sam Boughton, the NSW Labor candidate for Terrigal in the 2023 state election, to discuss key local issues such as the Wamberal Sea Wall.
 
On another visit to Terrigal, I went to the Empire Bay Tennis Club, which is getting a well-deserved upgrade worth $100,000 thanks to the Minns Labor Government. I also contributed to a media release announcing the funding.
 
I also met with local branch members at the Central Coast Christmas Party along with Sam Boughton, Liesl Tesch MP, David Mehan MP, Dr Gordon Reid MP and Emma McBride MP.

Drummoyne

I have attended a number of party meetings in the electorate of Drummoyne, including Drummoyne SEC, Concord branch and Five Dock branch. I have also met with local councillors to discuss issues relevant to the electorate.
 
On 29 November 2023, I sent a media release to local media to let them know a new Return and Earn point had been opened in North Strathfield on Concord Road. 

Wollondilly

 Early this year, I was excited to send a media release to local media announcing that the Koori Kulcha Aboriginal Corporation in Wollondilly had a share in $500,000 to celebrate Aboriginal culture in NSW under the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Affairs Cultural Grants Program.

 
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