Greens spur Labor into action on penalty rates
The Greens have welcomed Labor's latest change of position on penalty rates, noting Labor's commitment today to legislate to stop the FWC decision from coming into effect comes two days after the Greens wrote to Labor seeking support for a bill that would do exactly that.
"The Greens welcome Labor's latest change of position on penalty rates," Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said.
"We have successfully pulled Labor around from supporting the FWC decision just a few months ago to now copying our legislation to stop these devastating cuts."
"We are glad that Labor has finally committed to backing up their words with action."
"The Greens have held Labor to account. Now if we all work together, we can protect people's wages."
"If crossbench MPs and Senators join the Greens and Labor, we can pass a bill stopping the Commission's cuts coming into effect through at least one of the Houses of Parliament. This will add to the immense community pressure on Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition to stop people's penalty rates being cut."
"A few days ago Labor was calling the Greens' position 'stupid' but now they're adopting it. Imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery."
On Friday, the Greens released a bill to prevent the FWC decision from coming into effect and wrote to Labor and the crossbench seeking support for the bill. You can download a copy of the letter to Labor here and a copy of the bill here.
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054
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