MILLIONS IN PAY LOST IN APRIL

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP.
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5 years ago
MILLIONS IN PAY LOST IN APRIL
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
A report launched today by the Centre for Future Work reveals that, in April alone, and because of public holidays, wages will be $80 million lower than if penalty rates weren’t cut.  
 
Despite the magnitude of the loss to Australian workers, Scott Morrison and his Liberals support continued cuts to penalty rates.  
 
If the Morrison Government is re-elected, workers in retail and hospitality will see even bigger cuts to their penalty rates with another round of cuts due this year.  
 
It’s staggering that at a time when wages growth has hit record lows, the Liberals voted 8 times in the Parliament against restoring penalty rates. 
 
Under Morrison and his Liberals there is a risk that the cuts to penalty rates under the retail, hospitality, fast food, restaurant and pharmacy awards will spread to other workers. 
 
This Government believes keeping wages low is a “deliberate design feature” of their economic strategy.  
 
Labor understands that penalty rates are not a luxury and they are what pay the bills and puts food on the table.  
 
A Shorten Labor Government will, in our first 100 days, reverse the cuts to penalty rates, restoring fair pay.  We will change the laws to make sure they can’t be cut for anyone again.  
  
Morrison’s position on penalty rates is a slap in the face for low paid workers, who on 1 July will have their penalty rates cut again. This time the cuts will be even deeper.  
 
Labor is completely opposed to any cuts to penalty rates for Australian workers. 
  
Australians deserve a pay rise – and they aren’t getting one under Scott Morrison and his Liberals.  
 
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to restore penalty rates, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals. 
   
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready to deliver a fair go for all Australians. 
 
Labor Party