Responding to the Productivity Commission’s draft report into the workplace relations framework, Greens employment and industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Greens will make penalty rates a key election issue in the upcoming Federal Election. “Any cuts to penalty rates will be a body blow for young people across the country,” Mr Bandt said.
“With housing prices so high and wages growing so slowly, young people working in retail and hospitality depend on penalty rates to support themselves and make ends meet.”
“The Greens led the Senate in calling on Tony Abbott to exclude penalty rates and the minimum wage from the Productivity Commission report because we feared he would use it as an excuse to resurrect his attacks on the pay and conditions for Australians at work.”
“Tony Abbott ignored the Senate’s call and we now fear the ‘dead, buried and cremated’ WorkChoices legislation is set to rise again under his leadership.”
“The Greens will not let this happen. Tony Abbott and the Liberals can expect to fight another election on penalty rates and Australians’ rights at work.”
“To all Australian young people and their parents: the Greens always have and always will fight any attack on penalty rates, the minimum wage and your rights at work.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford 0429 109 054
