Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Workplace surveillance

Gary MAAS (Narre Warren South) (17:19): (1179) The adjournment matter I wish to raise is for the Minister for Industrial Relations in the other place and concerns the parliamentary inquiry into workplace surveillance. The action that I seek is that the minister provide an update on how the government’s response to this inquiry will impact workers in my electorate of Narre Warren South. I was glad to hear that the inquiry’s committee recently tabled its final report. The inquiry was requested by our Allan Labor government and looked at the nature of workplaces and technology, both of which have changed quite significantly over the years. The misuse of workplace surveillance does impact workers’ mental and physical health and causes potential privacy, data and security risks as well.

It leads to distrust in the workplace and greater inefficiency, with stressed staff taking more time off, and this of course ultimately leads to really poor productivity in the workplace. In my experience a strong, happy and positive workplace often produces the best productivity and financial outcomes as well.

The growing popularity of working from home has also led employers to find new and often unscrupulous ways to monitor their workers remotely. The monitoring of productivity for legitimate reasons is one thing, but this must be balanced with the protection of workers rights and their health and safety as well. Workers are not robots. It should not be forgotten that workers are human beings with human needs and human frailties as well. I will just finish by saying that this Labor government will always continue to fight to protect workers rights.