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Labor targets Malcolm Turnbull over cut to penalty rates – question time live Labor targets Malcolm Turnbull over cut to penalty rates – question time live
(35 minutes later)
3.44am GMT
03:44
Labor’s Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull: Can the Prime Minister guarantee the decision to cut penalty rates in the retail and hospitality industries will not lead to the pay of other industries, people like nurses who work late nights and weekends caring for the sick and injured? Why won’t the Prime Minister support Labor’s legislation to protect the penalty rates of all Australians?
So Labor is trying to extend the FWC penalties decision to other professions.
Turnbull arcs up, calling it another reckless scare campaign before King is turfed out of the chamber for interjecting. Turnbull obviously thinks better of it and says he has concluded his answer.
3.40am GMT
03:40
Labor to Barnaby Joyce: PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis reported in the Australian shows wages in regional Australia have grown three times slower than in major cities. Given regional workers are already doing it tough, why is the deputy prime minister supporting pay cuts for regional Australians? Including up to 13,000 retail accommodation and food services workers in the electorate of Dawson and up to 16,000 in the electorate of Leichhardt?
Barnaby goes into a Joycean rave about how Labor had done nothing for regional Australia and the MP for Herbert, Cathy O’Toole, had done nothing to support the Hell’s Gate dam.
He does not go to regional wages or whether he supports the penalty rates decision by the FWC.
Updated
at 3.41am GMT
3.33am GMT
03:33
Tanya Plibersek asks Turnbull: How many women will have their pay cut because of the penalty rates decision and what will this do to the gender pay gap in Australia?
Turnbull quotes figures for the different sectors including retail, hospitality and food sectors. He says:
There’s more female than males working in those sectors but it’s not clear in terms of those who were receiving the penalty rates that are affected by the decision, that the balance is markedly different between men and women.
Updated
at 3.36am GMT
3.30am GMT
03:30
Greens Adam Bandt to Malcolm Turnbull: Newspoll today should be no surprise, young people are getting screwed over. Owning a home is out of reach, study is getting more expensive, work is getting more insecure and now many young people’s wages will be cut after the Fair Work Commission decision cheered on by your government to cut their penalty rates. Last year the Greens announced our plan to protect penalty rates in legislation and we’re pleased that others are now onboard. Prime minister, will you now join with the rest of the parliament in protecting the wages of hundreds of thousands of Australians, especially our youngest and lowest-paid workers by backing the Greens’ bill? Wouldn’t it be better to protect the young people’s wages rather than give the big banks a multimillion-dollar handout?
Turnbull has been quoting Jennie George, former president of the ACTU, who wrote to the Oz last week.
I worked alongside Iain Ross for several years at the ACTU. His diligence, competence, commitment and integrity was acclaimed throughout the union movement and by all who dealt with him. After working in the legal system, his appointment as Fair Work Australia president by the then Labor government recognised the qualities and widespread experience he would bring to this important position.
Of course unions should express concern about the impact of the decision on the wages of affected workers. I am sure this weighed heavily on the FWA members, who spent years examining the submissions and witness evidence. That’s why the bench has deferred consideration of the transitional arrangements to implement their decision, mindful of the potential effects on low-paid workers.
The door is open for the unions to argue for transitional arrangements that would minimise these effects. In addition, the relevant unions could try safeguarding their current penalty rates through enterprise agreements.
Be careful what you wish for. Bill Shorten was right to say before the election that he would accept the decision. An independent umpire has been the bedrock of our industrial relations system and should be beyond party politics.
Turnbull says:
There is always a balance between the rate of penalty rates and its impact on employment. It’s clearly a contentious matter. You have an independent body has determined it, they have considered it carefully, they have come to the conclusion.
Updated
at 3.38am GMT
3.22am GMT
03:22
Paul Karp
I’ve been taking a look at the Labor and Greens bills on penalty rates and in an earlier post said Labor’s bill would effectively stop penalty rate cuts by setting a very high bar to make award changes.
But it’s important to note the bill would only stop the most recent Fair Work Commission cut if it were legislated before orders are made (some time before 1 July).
The Greens’ bill actually locks in the rates at the start of 2017. So if their bill were ever legislated, it would unwind the most recent FWC decision.
Labor’s bill on its face prevents the cut but, by the time they are back in government and could actually legislate it, it would probably be too late for the 700,000 workers who are about to get a cut. I expect the Greens will push them on this point.
Updated
at 3.28am GMT
3.21am GMT
03:21
Shorten to Turnbull: In April of last year, the prime minister legislated to overturn the decision of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the independent umpire for safe rates in the trucking industry. And then, in October of last year, the prime minister again legislated to pre-empt the decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to the Country Fire Authority. So why is the prime minister now refusing to legislate to stop this pay cut to 700,000 Australians?
Turnbull:
April was a notable month last year because that was the month in which the leader of the opposition gave his absolutely unqualified, unequivocal pledge to Neil Mitchell that he would support, commit to, abide by the decision of the Fair Work Commission on penalty rates.
Turnbull says the abolition of the RSRT was always Liberal policy and “we carried it out”.
Updated
at 3.28am GMT
3.15am GMT
03:15
Next government question is on affordable energy, allowing Malcolm Turnbull to talk about Labor’s reckless renewable policies.
3.13am GMT
03:13
Labor’s employment shadow, Brendan O’Connor, to Malcolm Turnbull: Why is the prime minister standing by and doing absolutely nothing to stop nearly 700,000 Australians from having their pay cut by up to $77 a week?
Turnbull continues to read previous Shorten statements relating to the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission.
In terms of dealing with penalty rates making from our side of politics, we believe the Fair Work Commission is the independent umpire, it should make the decisions and we should respect them. That used to be the position on the other side. Apparently in January, according to the member for McMahon, the leader of the opposition had some sort of thought cleansing experience when suddenly he was reprogrammed.
Updated
at 3.29am GMT
3.10am GMT
03:10
First government question to Turnbull is on the visit by the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo.
It relates to the agreement with Indonesia to lower its sugar tariff on Australian sugar to the Asean level of 5% and longer-term agreements to permit a wider range of cattle both in terms of weight and age, to be exported to Indonesia.
Updated
at 3.30am GMT
3.05am GMT3.05am GMT
03:0503:05
First question from Shorten to Turnbull: Last Thursday, the Fair Work Commission made a decision to cut the take-home pay of nearly 700,000 Australians. What is the prime minister going to do to stop this pay cut?First question from Shorten to Turnbull: Last Thursday, the Fair Work Commission made a decision to cut the take-home pay of nearly 700,000 Australians. What is the prime minister going to do to stop this pay cut?
Turnbull is reading out Shorten’s previous comments talking up the independence of the Fair Work Commission. Turnbull quotes Shorten in 2012 on Meet the Press:Turnbull is reading out Shorten’s previous comments talking up the independence of the Fair Work Commission. Turnbull quotes Shorten in 2012 on Meet the Press:
I think the best way, said the Leader of the Opposition, to protect Fair Work Australia is to protect its independence. It’s a statutory body. It’s doing its investigations and the argument which says that the government needs to intervene would undermine its independence. It’s an independent body. Well, that’s a bold statement - hard to connect to the remarks we just heard.I think the best way, said the Leader of the Opposition, to protect Fair Work Australia is to protect its independence. It’s a statutory body. It’s doing its investigations and the argument which says that the government needs to intervene would undermine its independence. It’s an independent body. Well, that’s a bold statement - hard to connect to the remarks we just heard.
2.59am GMT2.59am GMT
02:5902:59
Help me out here. Did Senator David Fawcett just describe boat arrivals as fleas? #estimates #auspol pic.twitter.com/iWkjwc2eioHelp me out here. Did Senator David Fawcett just describe boat arrivals as fleas? #estimates #auspol pic.twitter.com/iWkjwc2eio
2.51am GMT2.51am GMT
02:5102:51
Question time coming up.Question time coming up.
@gabriellechan Hang in there... pic.twitter.com/UcYlvC6coO@gabriellechan Hang in there... pic.twitter.com/UcYlvC6coO
2.46am GMT2.46am GMT
02:4602:46
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Labor has released its bill to protect the take-home pay of workers, including against the Fair Work Commission’s decision on Thursday to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in four industries.Labor has released its bill to protect the take-home pay of workers, including against the Fair Work Commission’s decision on Thursday to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in four industries.
The bill says: “A modern award cannot be varied in a way that would, or would be likely to, reduce the take-home pay of any employee covered by the award.”By banning changes that disadvantage any employee, the bill sets a very high bar for when the Fair Work Commission could change awards.The bill says: “A modern award cannot be varied in a way that would, or would be likely to, reduce the take-home pay of any employee covered by the award.”By banning changes that disadvantage any employee, the bill sets a very high bar for when the Fair Work Commission could change awards.
Although when Labor first mooted changes in January there were suggestions the commission could award other benefits such as an increase in base rates of pay to offset the cut, in practice that will be very difficult.Although when Labor first mooted changes in January there were suggestions the commission could award other benefits such as an increase in base rates of pay to offset the cut, in practice that will be very difficult.
That’s because if all workers have to be compensated by the amount of the person who would be worst off under the decision, some workers would stand still and other workers would actually get a pay increase from an attempt by the commission to cut penalty rates.That’s because if all workers have to be compensated by the amount of the person who would be worst off under the decision, some workers would stand still and other workers would actually get a pay increase from an attempt by the commission to cut penalty rates.
The Greens’ bill simply freezes penalty rates at the levels at the start of 2017. In practice, Labor’s will have the same effect and goes further in protecting conditions like the span of ordinary hours.The Greens’ bill simply freezes penalty rates at the levels at the start of 2017. In practice, Labor’s will have the same effect and goes further in protecting conditions like the span of ordinary hours.
Most crossbenchers and the government have rejected the proposals.Most crossbenchers and the government have rejected the proposals.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.52am GMTat 2.52am GMT
2.33am GMT2.33am GMT
02:3302:33
Classic. The group that destablises a Coalition govt betrays its own members, turning them from the Deplorables into the Expendables #auspol pic.twitter.com/xXuM0BAX8wClassic. The group that destablises a Coalition govt betrays its own members, turning them from the Deplorables into the Expendables #auspol pic.twitter.com/xXuM0BAX8w
2.27am GMT2.27am GMT
02:2702:27
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.29am GMTat 2.29am GMT
2.15am GMT2.15am GMT
02:1502:15
Voting patterns on penalty rate suspension.Voting patterns on penalty rate suspension.
Independents Katter, Sharkie, Bandt & Wilkie vote with Opposition, McGowan votes with govt. #suspension #fairWorkAct pic.twitter.com/D91mCZf1n7Independents Katter, Sharkie, Bandt & Wilkie vote with Opposition, McGowan votes with govt. #suspension #fairWorkAct pic.twitter.com/D91mCZf1n7
2.12am GMT2.12am GMT
02:1202:12
Canning Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, the man who named the conservative group The Deplorables, has stood by Malcolm Turnbull on Perth radio.Canning Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, the man who named the conservative group The Deplorables, has stood by Malcolm Turnbull on Perth radio.
He is the prime minister under God – I consider that a sacred office and I would be loath to push a spill motion or do any of those sorts of things which people are somehow suggesting.He is the prime minister under God – I consider that a sacred office and I would be loath to push a spill motion or do any of those sorts of things which people are somehow suggesting.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.29am GMTat 2.29am GMT
2.09am GMT2.09am GMT
02:0902:09
Whither to for the Young OnesWhither to for the Young Ones
Katharine Murphy has a story on the Deplorable Club which you can find here. But there is a lovely little detail in it:Katharine Murphy has a story on the Deplorable Club which you can find here. But there is a lovely little detail in it:
One member of the group of conservative MPs told Guardian Australia on Monday the coordination between like-minded parliamentarians started as a narrowly focussed effort to revive the 18C debate, rather as anything more broad ranging, although there was a feeling that Abbott should return to the cabinet.One member of the group of conservative MPs told Guardian Australia on Monday the coordination between like-minded parliamentarians started as a narrowly focussed effort to revive the 18C debate, rather as anything more broad ranging, although there was a feeling that Abbott should return to the cabinet.
But according to this account, as time went on, younger conservatives involved in the discussions became irritated that the conversations turned to returning Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews – two Abbott supporters moved on from the cabinet by Turnbull when he took the leadership in September 2015 – to ministerial roles. “This turned the young ones off,” said one participant.But according to this account, as time went on, younger conservatives involved in the discussions became irritated that the conversations turned to returning Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews – two Abbott supporters moved on from the cabinet by Turnbull when he took the leadership in September 2015 – to ministerial roles. “This turned the young ones off,” said one participant.
2.04am GMT2.04am GMT
02:0402:04
Deplorable.Deplorable.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.09am GMTat 2.09am GMT