Cairns workers who’ve fallen victim to wage theft have the chance to tell their story when the Queensland Parliamentary Wage Theft Inquiry holds a public hearing on August 27.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the Palaszczuk Government moved to establish the parliamentary inquiry earlier this year in response to increasing evidence of workers being ripped off by unscrupulous employers.
“We want law-abiding businesses, workers and all other interested members of the public to come along to the Cairns hearing at the Pullman Reef Hotel from 3-6pm,” Mr Healy said.
“We encourage them to share ideas on how to bring an end to this insidious practice which can include underpayment, unpaid super, unpaid penalty rates, unauthorised deductions from pay, unpaid work trials, the misuse of ABNs and sham contracting to deny workers their proper entitlements.”
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said Cairns workers expect to receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
“Sadly, this is not the reality for many workers and getting ripped off is becoming far too common,” Mr Pitt said.
“We have all heard of the high-profile cases of 7 Eleven, Dominos, Pizza Hut and Caltex to name a few, but they are probably only the tip of the iceberg.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the Government is determined to act.
“We are not going to stand by and watch this continue to happen, unlike the LNP who proved they don’t care about Queensland workers when they voted to stop this inquiry from going ahead,” Ms Lui said.
“We want to shine a light on what is happening, why it is happening, and what we need to do about it – whether at a state level, or at a federal level where much of the responsibility lies.
“Given the Federal Government has refused to take action, Queensland will do all it can at a state level.”
Anyone who’d like to appear before the Inquiry is encouraged to register their interest to speak at http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/EESBC/inquiries/current-inquiries/Wagetheft or contact the Committee Secretariat on 07 3553 6657.
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the hearing is open to anyone.
“Members of the Committee may provide opportunities for witnesses to give evidence privately on request, and members of the public may also register to attend as an observer,” Mr Crawford said.
“The public has until September 30 to participate in an online survey about wage theft, by heading to the Inquiry website.”
The Education, Employment and Small Business Committee will report to the Parliament by 16 November 2018 on the problem of wage theft in Queensland.
Media contacts:
Cairns Electorate Office – 4229 0110
Cook Electorate Office – 4223 1100
Mulgrave Electorate Office – 4237 1100
Barron River Electorate Office – 4229 0100
