Buninyong electorate
Ms SETTLE (Buninyong) (14:48): (6423) My constituency question is for the Minister for Workplace Safety. The trial of sick pay for casuals is a transformative policy. Casual work and the gig economy have seen employers’ responsibility for superannuation, sick pay and annual leave shift to working people. COVID shone a terrible light on the impact of that shift, as people had to choose between a day’s pay and their health. This shift in responsibility to workers has crept into critical industries like aged care and security, and we have seen the consequences. We will all benefit from this policy. By supporting working people, we are protecting ourselves. The previous federal government was missing in action when it came to looking out for working people, and the state government has had to step in, first with portable long service leave and now the casual workers sick pay trial. It is important to register in advance; that way when you get sick there is nothing to worry about but getting better. My question to the minister is: how many casuals in my local area are eligible for this transformative program, and how will it support them?