Labor and Greens Move to Defend Penalty Rates in Parliament

The controversial announcement by the Fair Work Commission to cut Sunday penalty rates will be debated in Parliament House this week.

On Thursday, the Fair Work Commission made the decision to cut weekend and public holiday penalty rates by up to 50 per cent in retail, pharmacy, hospitality, and fast food industries. If you missed the fuss, you can catch up here.

Labor intends to push ahead with a bill preventing penalty rate cuts that reduce take-home pay; the Greens will support the move.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has admitted 600,000 low-paid workers will be worse off, but says the benefits include more jobs, hours of work, and a boost to the economy.

So, who's against the penalty rate cuts at this stage?

Labor and the Greens are (obviously) staunchly against the decision.

I have just given notice to introduce legislation to protect penalty rates. Labor will stand up for workers - Turnbull should do the same. pic.twitter.com/5SzX31pAsl

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) 26 February 2017

BREAKING: Sunday & public hol rates cut for retail, hosp & fast food workers. Greens will move in parl to stop cuts coming into effect.

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) February 23, 2017

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has also said there’s “no way” she would support the changes to penalty rates. Lambie said the decrease in Sunday penalty rates will “hit Tasmanian battlers the hardest”.

Senator Nick Xenophon told reporters he would consider Labor’s bill, but believes it’s a “mistake” to override the Fair Work Commission’s decision, as it is an independent body.

One Nation’s Brian Burston and the Justice Party’s Derryn Hinch support the cuts.

.@Bowenchris confirms Labor has a bill ready to go on penalty rates pic.twitter.com/eX3IbigKin

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) 26 February 2017

Correction: The original headline of this story incorrectly stated that Labor and the Greens were moving to defend penalty rate cuts, rather than penalty rates. Student Edge regrets the error.

Photo: YouTube (@australianlabor)