The petitioners bring to the Senate's attention the following concerns:

Extent of Wage Theft: Casual coal miners have been underpaid tens of thousands of dollars annually. Casual coal miners have been underpaid by between $33,000 and $40,000 per year, according to an independent report that One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts commissioned.

Collusion and Misconduct: There are serious allegations of collusion between labour hire companies, union officials from the CFMEU and MEU, and the Fair Work Commission, resulting in illegal enterprise agreements that facilitated wage theft.

Inadequate Response from Authorities: Despite the severity of these allegations, responses from the Fair Work Commission and government officials have been insufficient. Workers have lost confidence in the Fair Work Commission's ability to safeguard their rights due to its prior endorsements of these illegal agreements.

Conflict of Interest: There are potential conflicts of interest involving the Australian Labor Party, given the financial contributions from the CFMEU, and payments from entities such as Abelshore to the CFMEU, which have not been adequately addressed.

We, therefore, humbly request that the Senate:

Establish a Commission of Enquiry: Form an independent Commission of Enquiry to investigate the full extent of wage theft in the coal industry, the involvement of labour hire companies, union officials, and the Fair Work Commission in these practices.

Lay Foundations for a Redress Scheme: Develop and implement a comprehensive redress scheme to ensure that affected coal miners are compensated for their losses. This scheme should include back pay for all unpaid wages, compensation for financial and emotional distress, and measures to prevent future occurrences of wage theft.

Strengthen Regulatory Frameworks: Introduce legislative changes to close existing loopholes that allow for such exploitation, ensuring stronger protections for casual workers and stricter penalties for those found guilty of wage theft.

Enhance Oversight and Accountability: Increase transparency and accountability within unions and the Fair Work Commission to restore trust in these institutions and protect workers' rights effectively.

Conclusion: The issue of wage theft in the coal industry is a significant injustice that has affected thousands of hard-working Australians. We urge the Senate to take immediate action to investigate and rectify this situation, ensuring that all workers receive fair compensation and that such exploitation is never repeated.

Your petitioners, therefore, request that the Senate take swift and decisive action on this matter.