New figures show Ballarat will be hard hit by the Turnbull Government’s refusal to stop the Fair Work Commission’s cut to penalty rates, Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today.
“More than 12,000 people in our region work in the retail, food and accommodation industries affected by penalty rate cuts.
“That’s one in six workers in the Ballarat electorate. These workers stand to lose up to $4000 per year.” Ms King said.
Retail is the second biggest industry in Ballarat, employing 7,512 workers. Food and hospitality is the sixth biggest industry, employing 4,567 workers.
“Under Malcolm Turnbull’s government wage growth is lower than ever – and the lowest paid workers in our community have now been dealt a significant pay cut.
“They and their families shouldn’t have to put up with this ideological attack on their livelihoods while the government is determined to give away $50 billion to giant corporations.”
Malcolm Turnbull and his Ministers campaigned for the Fair Work Commission to cut penalty rates, and then voted to block the introduction of laws to protect the income of those who rely on those penalties to survive.
The flow on effects from the cuts are bad for the region’s economy, as these workers will now have less money to spend in local shops, restaurants and other businesses.
“Last Monday Labor brought forward a Private Member’s Bill to prevent the wages of workers relying on the award from being cut.” Ms. King said.
“Labor’s bill would stop the penalty rates cut from taking effect and ensure penalty rates cannot be cut in future if it results in a reduction in workers’ take-home pay.
With the Government holding a one seat majority, a single Liberal or National Party MP crossing the floor to vote with Labor and the crossbenchers, we can stop penalty rates being cut.
Turnbull’s Liberal-National Government is seriously out of touch, voting against protecting workers from a $77 per week pay cut, but voting for a $50 billion corporate tax cut for big business.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH 2017