11th May 2017, 12:11 PM – Representatives Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Keep penalty rates

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Labor MP Brendan O'Connor, which means it wasn't successful. The motion asked for the Government to protect penalty rates.

Motion text

That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that although the government pretends through the bill to care about vulnerable workers, those workers who earn penalty rates are also vulnerable as a result of the Fair Work Commission decision to cut penalty rates, a decision which the government supports; and

(2) calls on the government to:

(a) abandon its support of the Fair Work Commission decision to cut penalty rates because it will mean nearly 700,000 Australians will have their take home pay cut by up to $77 a week; and

(b) legislate to prevent the Fair Work Commission decision from taking effect, in order to stop Australians from having their penalty rates cut”.