31st Aug 2020, 9:37 PM – Senate Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020 - in Committee - Jobkeeper enabling stand down directions

The majority voted against amendment (1) on sheet 1015, which was introduced by South Australian Senator Don Farrell (Labor).

What did this amendment do?

Senator Farrell explained that:

Labor is moving this amendment because it's critical to protecting the pay and conditions of low-paid workers. If this bill is passed unamended, we could see a situation where businesses which have recovered to the point where their turnover decline is less than 10 per cent can cut the hours of their employees to the tune of 40 per cent. Let's not forget that, in income terms, it could actually be much more than that, because it's a cut to hours.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 2, item 22, page 13 (after line 17), after paragraph 789GJA(1)(c), insert:

(ca) the jobkeeper enabling stand down direction will not result in the amount payable to the employee in relation to the performance of work for the employer for a jobkeeper fortnight that is within the jobkeeper enabling stand down period that is less than the amount that would be payable to the employee if the employer were entitled to a jobkeeper payment for the employee for the fortnight; and