7 years ago
TURNBULL AGAIN DEFENDS CUTS TO PENALTY RATES
RENDAN O’CONNOR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS
he Prime Minister’s callous disregard for low paid workers was on display again today as he reconfirmed his support for cutting penalty rates, not once but twice.
On 3AW this morning with Neil Mitchell, Malcolm Turnbull refused to stand up for low paid workers:
MITCHELL: Do you, it’s obviously becoming politically difficult for you, the penalty rates decision, you still unequivocally support it?
TURNBULL: Well, we support the decision of the independent umpire.
Later
MITCHELL: Let me press you, despite the political pain you unequivocally support the decision?
TURNBULL: I support the decision of the independent umpire, yes.
3AW – 20 July 2017
The Turnbull Government is out of touch. Make no mistake, Malcolm Turnbull supports cuts to penalty rates. He owns them.
Members of the Turnbull Government campaigned for cuts to weekend penalty rates – and Malcolm Turnbull hasn’t lifted a finger to stop these cuts from coming into effect.
Contrast this to the Prime Minister’s decision to intervene and quash an order of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, and abolish the independent umpire because truck drivers’ wages were going up.
Labor is calling on the Prime Minister to now intervene to stop hospitality and retail workers’ wages going down.
Up to 700,000 Australians in the retail, hospitality, fast food and pharmacy sector will see their penalty rates cut – pay cuts that will continue every year on 1 July until 2020.
The parliament has the power to stop penalty rates being cut, but Malcolm Turnbull refuses to act - because he supports these cuts to workers' take home pay.
A Shorten Labor government will reverse these pay cuts – and make sure it can’t happen again.
Labor’s legislation will reverse the recent decision to cut penalty rates and also change the law to protect the overall take-home pay of working Australians.
There is a clear choice at the next election. A vote for Bill Shorten and Labor is a vote for decent wages and fair penalty rates. A vote for Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals is a vote for lower wages.