By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
STATE Government and unions have lined up against federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson over penalty rates.
State Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins said a new Productivity Commission report foreshadowed an Abbott Government attack on penalty rates.
The Independent reported last week that unions had launched a Geelong campaign over the issue, which Ms Henderson had rejected as dishonest.
Ms Hutchins said the Commission’s proposal to cut Sunday penalty rates would hit the thousands of Victorian retail and hospitality workers.
“The Abbott Government is hiding its plan to cut wages and conditions behind an inquiry. If they aren’t considering cuts then why did Joe Hockey request that the Productivity Commission examine them?” she said.
“Cutting wages and conditions creates an underclass of workers and doesn’t improve productivity.
“Instead of attacking working people and resurrecting the worst elements of Work Choices, the Abbott Government should come up with fair ways to grow our economy.
“We know how important penalty rates are to Victorian workers and their families. We’ll fight tooth and nail to protect them.”
But Ms Henderson, the Member for Corangamite, insisted the Government had no plans to alter or remove penalty rates, which only the Fair Work Commission could change.
“Any suggestion that the government has altered penalty rates, or has plans to remove them, is simply false.
“In this draft report, the Productivity Commission has affirmed the Government’s position that it is the job of the Fair Work Commission to make changes to penalty rates, not the government. It’s important to reiterate there has been no recommendation to make any changes to overtime, night work or shift allowances.
“For our nurses, firefighters, paramedics, police and other shift workers, penalty rates are vital.
“Over the last few days, we have seen union bosses and Labor make a range of dishonest claims such as our government intends to cut the penalty rates of nurses. Local nurses and midwives were deliberately misled by this dishonest campaign.
“Union bosses and Labor must cease their campaign of fear and uncertainty, which is hurting our region.”
