SCRAP SUPPORT FOR CUTS TO PENALTY RATES

At a time when wages growth has hit record low levels, there is one thing Turnbull and his Liberals could do to help working people – scrap their support for cuts to penalty rates.

 

Labor calls on Turnbull and his Liberals bring the amended Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2017 on for debate in the House of Representatives this week, in order to stop further cuts to penalty rates and re-set them at what they were on 30 June 2017.

 

The Senate passed this bill last year, with an amendment to protect penalty rates.  Since then, the Government has refused to bring it on for debate in the House of Representatives.

 

The question must be asked – why is the government too scared to bring its own bill on for debate?  There is only one answer: this Liberal government fully supports reducing the wages of hard working Australians by cutting penalty rates.

 

Labor has always indicated its support for the Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures Bill and has voted for it on two occasions now. But this government’s support for cuts to penalty rates has sent the bill and the measures contained in it into a policy freeze.

 

Sunday and public holiday rates in the hospitality, retail, fast food and pharmacy industries will be cut again on the 1st of July unless Turnbull sides with Labor to stand up for Australian workers.