Cuts to penalty rates puts families under even more pressure

Thousands of Tasmanian workers had a sleepless night last night after yesterday’s decision to cut penalty rates for hospitality, retail and fast food workers.
This decision is a devastating blow to thousands of low paid workers and families that rely on them in Tasmania.
Malcolm Turnbull and Will Hodgman have been campaigning for cuts to penalty rates for years and they are now cheering about these cuts to Tasmanians take home pay.
With inequality at a 75 year high, wages growth at record lows and underemployment at record highs, there could not be a worse time for this decision for Tasmanians.
Hundreds of Tasmanian hospitality and retail workers have contacted my office over the years to ask that penalty rates be protected and now their worst fears are being realised.
Malcolm Turnbull is happy to see workers get their pay cut and big business get a tax cut and he does not understand the real day to day change this means in so many Tasmanian families lives. Many workers will face upwards of $200 less in their take home pay per week because of this decision.
Yesterday I was talking to a couple who both work part time in the retail sector in Launceston. She is expecting her first child in the next three months and now they are both faced with the question of how they are going to pay their bills after July 1. Mr Turnbull and the Liberal’s just don’t understand how this change will affect so many Tasmanians.
Because of this decision life is only going to get harder for Tasmanians and I feel very concerned for these people. I am calling on the Senate Liberal Team to put pressure on Malcolm Turnbull to legislate to protect penalty rates so these Tasmanians don’t face more sleepless nights before these changes come into effect on July 1.
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE LEADER (TASMANIA) SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR AGEING SENATOR FOR TASMANIA