A Shorten Labor Government will restore weekend penalty rates for workers affected by the pay cuts which commence on 1 July.

As an opposition, Labor has fought on behalf of workers to stop these cuts from occurring. As a government, we 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 as a result of future decisions.

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.

This weekend under the Turnbull Government, millionaires will get a $16,400 tax cut while workers in retail, hospitality, fast food and pharmacy will see their wages cut.

These pay cuts will continue every year until 2020.  

Because of Malcolm Turnbull, millionaires will have more money in their pockets, and up to 700,000 low-income workers will have less.

The parliament had the power to stop penalty rates being cut, but Malcolm Turnbull refused to act.

Malcolm Turnbull will pay the price for this betrayal at the next election – working and middle class Australians will make sure of it.

At a time when wages are declining in real terms, there could not be a worse time to cut the wages of up to 700,000 Australian workers.

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.  

WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 2017