Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann MP, has welcomed the announcement that a Shorten Labor Government will establish new laws to tackle unfair labour hire practices in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and the Karana Downs region.

Mr Neumann said that many people in Blair were currently hurting because of unfair labour hire practices.

“We’ve heard stories about workers being sacked and offered their job back at reduced pay, and young people being locked out of the housing market,

“Too many labour hire workers are being treated like second class citizens, with lower wages, worse conditions and no job security” said Mr Neumann.

“That’s why a Shorten Labor Government will legislate to ensure that workers employed through a labour hire company will receive the same pay and conditions as people employed directly.”

Labor’s new policy is based on a simple principle: if you are doing the same job, you should get the same pay.

Mr Neumann said that while there are workers who like the flexibility that labour hire provides, too often it’s used purely as a mechanism to pay workers less, or to deprive them of conditions and security.

“Labor has listened to the concerns of workers in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and the Karana Downs region and have taken action to build a fair labour hire industry that helps businesses meet their needs, while protecting workers,”

Mr Neumann said the announcement builds on Labor’s plans to improve the pay and conditions of working Australians, including examining the definition of ‘casual’ work and setting an objective test for deciding when a worker is ‘casual’.

“Malcolm Turnbull and his Government are so out of touch that they keep telling us that casualisation isn’t a problem. They’ve voted against laws that would help workers recover unpaid wages where a labour hire company does a runner,

“While Labor is putting forward policies that deliver a fair go for Ipswich, the Somerset Region and the Karana Downs region, Malcolm Turnbull and his Government continue to look after the top end of town.”

Mr Neumann said a Shorten Labor Government will consult with labour hire companies, host employers, unions and other stakeholders on the legislative scheme and transitional arrangements.

This policy will not affect small businesses using labour hire companies to source workers on a temporary basis or to deliver specialist skills.