Today’s Transitional Arrangements decision by the Fair Work Commission has confirmed the worst fears of workers – penalty rates cuts on Sundays and public holidays will start on 1 July 2017.

Today’s Transitional Arrangements decision by the Fair Work Commission has confirmed the worst fears of workers – penalty rates cuts on Sundays and public holidays will start on 1 July 2017.

While Malcolm Turnbull has previously said he supports the FWC’s decision to cut penalty rates, workers can have their take home pay protected if Mr Turnbull changes his mind and intervenes.

The solution is simple – these cuts can be stopped if Malcolm Turnbull supports Labor’s legislation to do so. 

He has the power to join with Labor to stop these cuts to penalty rates.

The Prime Minister can support that legislation when Parliament resumes on Tuesday June 13 and it will ensure no worker has to have their pay cut as a result of this decision.

As a result of this decision people will lose money on their first Sunday worked, which is 2 July this year.

It also comes the day after Mr Turnbull is handing high incomes earners a big tax cut – on 1 July, millionaires will get a tax cut of $16,400, while up to 700,000 people on low and middle incomes will have their pay cut.

This is an appalling decision and comes at a time when wages are falling in real terms.

It doesn’t matter if the cuts are phased in over two or three years, the damage is the same – people will be losing real money.

Labor does not support any cuts to penalty rates and we argued strongly against any cuts.

Malcolm Turnbull must now stand up for Australian workers and support Labor to stop these pay cuts from occurring.

MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017