5 years ago
LIBERALS PROTECTING DODGY BOSSES WHO DON’T PAY SUPER
ANDREW LEIGH MP
The Liberals are letting dodgy employers off the hook for failing to pay workers’ superannuation.
Last May, the Liberals introduced a bill to Parliament to give a 12-month “amnesty” to employers who pay superannuation guarantee payments that they have failed to pay since 1 July 1992. Labor opposed this amnesty, because dodgy employers shouldn’t get away with failing to pay their employees’ super.
Employers must obey the law. There are penalties in law which remain for ripping off workers and not paying superannuation – which is a fine equal to up to 200 percent of the amount of superannuation owed. These have remain in force and have not changed.
Yet today, it has been revealed that the Liberals asked the tax office to administer their amnesty anyway. Reports suggest that many business owners applied under the amnesty. They have apparently been treated by the tax office as though the amnesty had passed the Parliament.
The Liberals – without any tick from the Parliament – are letting employers who have failed pay superannuation entitlements from an employee for up to 25 years off the hook. This is completely unacceptable, and Labor has today written to the tax commissioner to find out the full circumstances surrounding this debacle.
Worse, if they got their way, the Liberals would even give dodgy employers a tax break for doing the wrong thing.
Superannuation is part of a worker’s pay and conditions. Bosses who deliberately avoid paying their workers superannuation are breaking the law – and they should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Only this arrogant, out-of-touch Liberal Government would fail to enforce the law and let dodgy bosses off the hook.
Only Labor can be trusted to stand up for workers. Labor opposes this amnesty and will actually do something about unpaid superannuation – unlike the Liberals. Last year, Labor announced a ground-breaking policy to tackle unpaid superannuation, including a commitment to include a right to superannuation within the National Employment Standards, which will give all employees the power to pursue their unpaid superannuation.
The Liberals should stop letting dodgy bosses off the hook and match Labor’s commitment to crack down on unpaid super.
Last May, the Liberals introduced a bill to Parliament to give a 12-month “amnesty” to employers who pay superannuation guarantee payments that they have failed to pay since 1 July 1992. Labor opposed this amnesty, because dodgy employers shouldn’t get away with failing to pay their employees’ super.
Employers must obey the law. There are penalties in law which remain for ripping off workers and not paying superannuation – which is a fine equal to up to 200 percent of the amount of superannuation owed. These have remain in force and have not changed.
Yet today, it has been revealed that the Liberals asked the tax office to administer their amnesty anyway. Reports suggest that many business owners applied under the amnesty. They have apparently been treated by the tax office as though the amnesty had passed the Parliament.
The Liberals – without any tick from the Parliament – are letting employers who have failed pay superannuation entitlements from an employee for up to 25 years off the hook. This is completely unacceptable, and Labor has today written to the tax commissioner to find out the full circumstances surrounding this debacle.
Worse, if they got their way, the Liberals would even give dodgy employers a tax break for doing the wrong thing.
Superannuation is part of a worker’s pay and conditions. Bosses who deliberately avoid paying their workers superannuation are breaking the law – and they should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Only this arrogant, out-of-touch Liberal Government would fail to enforce the law and let dodgy bosses off the hook.
Only Labor can be trusted to stand up for workers. Labor opposes this amnesty and will actually do something about unpaid superannuation – unlike the Liberals. Last year, Labor announced a ground-breaking policy to tackle unpaid superannuation, including a commitment to include a right to superannuation within the National Employment Standards, which will give all employees the power to pursue their unpaid superannuation.
The Liberals should stop letting dodgy bosses off the hook and match Labor’s commitment to crack down on unpaid super.