The Greens support this motion and we express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Dede Fredy and Xiaojun Chen. They died at work in a gig economy, which overwhelmingly means insecure work, low pay and utterly diminished industrial rights for workers. Three-quarters of delivery riders earn below the minimum wage. Many gig economy workers are migrants and on temporary visas and are vulnerable to exploitation and wage theft. Our employment laws don't protect workers.

I rise to speak on an animal welfare matter that has captured the country's attention this fortnight. The 2020 Melbourne Cup claimed the life of Anthony Van Dyck, the latest victim of a race that supposedly stops the nation. This death was heart-wrenching, but sadly no surprise at all. This was not a freak accident or an unforeseeable outcome. This is just the brutal reality of horseracing. The cup has killed seven horses since 2013, including Verema, Admire Rakti, Araldo, Red Cadeaux, Regal Monarch and The Cliffsofmoher. These horses are just the tip of the iceberg.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Senate’s agreement to her motion acknowledging all Melbourne Cup horse deaths since 2013 and stating that no horse should die at a racetrack.

Senator Faruqi said:

“The Senate has sent a blunt message to the racing industry today: you have failed to protect the animals under your care. Enough is enough.

“Horse racing is inherently dangerous for these animals. No horse is safe at an Australian racetrack.

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) the racehorse Anthony Van Dyck died following injuries sustained in the 2020 Melbourne Cup,

   (ii) Anthony Van Dyck was the seventh racehorse to die as a result of the Cup since 2013, following Verema, Araldo, Admire Rakti, Red Cadeaux, Regal Monarch and Cliffsofmoher, and

   (iii) according to stewards' reports, between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020, 116 racehorses died at racetracks, as a result of catastrophic front limb injury, cardiac causes, serious bleeds, head trauma, and other injuries; and

Senator Patrick's amendments

As I said in my speech in the second reading debate, the Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020 grants very broad powers to the minister to basically hand out $4 billion of public money to businesses, and it doesn't do much else. This bill doesn't actually establish the JobMaker hiring credit scheme. It doesn't provide a single detail about the scheme. There's nothing about eligibility criteria or anything else for that matter.

In respect of the ministerial statement on industry and manufacturing, I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

I rise to make a brief contribution on this urgency motion. What a relief. The US election result is a good thing for humanity. Donald Trump is a poisonous force in global politics. While it has become something of a cliche to say that Trump is a symptom not the cause of the far Right extremism he represents, it's also clear that the racism and white supremacy he stands for have been dealt a big blow. We can't dismiss the symbolic and practical importance of his removal from office. All who believe in equity, freedom, social justice and climate justice cheered on Trump's defeat.

I rise on behalf of the Greens to speak on the Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020. Everyone has a right to a liveable income and a right to a safe, secure and meaningful job that pays them decent wages to live a good life. Even before the pandemic, we should have been really concerned about unemployment in Australia. In March 2020, the national unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent and was even higher for young people, at 11.6 per cent. The underemployment crisis has been one which has been hidden for far too long.

The Greens have backed calls from animal welfare groups and an equine veterinarian for an independent investigation and necropsy report into the death of the racehorse Anthony Van Dyck following Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare, said:

“Tuesday’s race was horrific. There are serious questions to answer about this racehorse death. There must be no industry cover-up.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the death of the Melbourne Cup racehorse Anthony Van Dyck.

Senator Faruqi said:

“This is the brutal reality of horse racing. Anthony Van Dyck’s death is a tragic but hardly unforeseeable outcome. Seven horses have now died as a result of the last eight Melbourne Cup races.

“Horse racing is deadly and completely inhumane. We need to shut this industry down.

“Killing horses for entertainment is barbaric. There is no place for commercial horse racing in our society.