Major plans to protect workers and build NSW's skills base are afoot, premier Chris Minns has told Labor's faithful after thanking them for following him from the electoral wilderness.
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Mr Minns addressed the bi-annual NSW Labor conference for the first time as premier on Sunday, heralding some of his government's achievements since leading the party back to power in March 2023.
The election victory ended 12 years in opposition.
"None of us join this party to sit on the sidelines, out of government and just looking in," Mr Minns said.
"Labor exists to win, so that we can fulfil the mission of this conference."
Scrapping a cap on public sector wages and boosting local manufacturing were among the highlights of the government's work so far.
But the premier had a not-so-thinly veiled message for his audience, entering Sydney's Town Hall to the tune of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's 1974 hit You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.
"It's all still ahead of us," he said.
"No one is interested in NSW Labor starting a victory lap right now, least of all us.
"Having run a marathon to get into government, we have to start another one straight away to rebuild the state."
Convenience should not be put ahead of the rights of workers, who deserve protection from exploitation, Mr Minns said, announcing plans to protect rideshare drivers and on-demand deliverers.
The state's Industrial Relations Commission will be called on to set minimum pay and conditions for people doing difficult and dangerous work, dropping off takeaway food orders or ferrying those in need of a lift in legislation to be introduced by the end of 2024.
"We can't be a society that prioritises our convenience over these workers, that treats them as if they're disposable or anonymous, or someone to be exploited," Mr Minns said.
Workers will also be able to appeal against being deactivated on apps through a mediation process to arbitrate disputes with platforms.
Elsewhere, the exploitation of migrant workers is in the crosshairs of a plan to provide advice, education and training for people who may not be proficient in English or aware of their workplace rights in Australia.
Multicultural unions and organisations as well as government agencies will be involved in sector consultations focused on creating the NSW Migrant Workers Centre, the premier said.
Mr Minns also announced a $252 million injection for local councils to employ 1300 more apprentices and trainees amid declining workforce numbers, set to be exacerbated by upcoming retirements of skilled workers whose knowledge should be passed to the next generation.
It's the biggest direct state government investment in new apprentices in decades and will help arrest dwindling completion rates, Mr Minns told the conference, saying the apprenticeship program will be a regional boon.
"Smaller towns have fewer apprenticeships, fewer pathways for formal training, this is going to make a massive difference in those places," Mr Minns said.
Conspicuously absent from his address was any mention of the CFMEU, as were any delegates, after the premier banned them from attending.
The government took the union's construction and general arm to the state's Industrial Relations Court earlier in July to impose an independent administrator amid numerous corruption allegations in NSW and interstate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese similarly avoided mentioning the union when addressing the conference on Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
