It's time to abolish subminimum wages - disabled workers deserve equal pay for their work. As Greens spokesperson for disability rights & inclusion, Abigail was one of the first signatories of the open letter to abolish subminimum wage when it first launched back in 2022. Now, two years later the open letter has been signed by thousands of people, organisations and politicians!
Wednesday 20 November 2024
Today Abigail tried to move a motion commending the open letter and campaign to abolish subminimum wage, but it was shamefully opposed by the major parties and did not pass.
Abigail's motion read as follows:
(1) That this House notes that:
(a) over 2,600 individuals, organisations, businesses and federal, state and local politicians from various political parties have signed the open letter opposing the practice of paying disabled workers subminimum wage in Australia,
(b) the open letter is led by Shaun Bickley who is an autistic disability justice advocate and community organiser from Brisbane, Queensland who has successfully led the initiative to abolish subminimum wage in Seattle, the first city government in the United States to do so, and is now championing the fight to abolish subminimum wage for disabled workers in Australia,
(c) the open letter argues that:
(i) in 2024 disabled people living in Australia can be paid as little as $3.01 per hour, while the minimum wage for others is $24.10 per hour,
(ii) the Disability Royal Commission found that Australia has one of the lowest disability employment rates in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and
(iii) the international workers' movement led by disabled people to end these practices, which originated in the 1930s, has seen sweeping legislative success across the past decade.
(2) That this House commends the advocacy and work of Shaun Bickley in leading this campaign and fighting for an inclusive, fairer equitable society for all.