On 30 August 2021 the Hon Adam Searle MLC delivered a speech to the Auburn State Electorate Council which explored the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian labour market and canvassed possible options for industrial relations reform in the wake of the pandemic.
The virus and the restrictions put in place to combat it are having serious effects on workers and communities, across New South Wales and particularly in west and southwestern Sydney. The region has lost a quarter of a million jobs, with key industries in the state suffering significant downturns - far larger than last year. Some ideas canvassed in the speech include the introduction of wage theft laws, changes to workplace surveillance regulations, and a greater role in industrial relations protections by the NSW Government.