One Nation’s leader, Pauline Hanson, has already indicated her support for the penalty rates cut, while Xenophon and Hinch have supported, in principle, the Fair Work Commission as an independent tribunal even though, in 2013, Xenophon has tried to use a private member’s bill to cut penalty rates. Xenophon told Guardian Australia he believed there was merit in the former workplace minister Eric Abetz’s suggestion that penalty rate cuts could be “grandfathered” so no existing worker would be worse off. The Fair Work Commission will take submissions on the transition process to implement the penalty rate cut until 24 March. After a parliamentary sitting week that was dominated by penalty rates, Coalition backbenchers report frustration over the tactics of the senior leadership on the issue. Sunday penalty rates cut by up to 25%, hitting retail and hospitality workers Read moreGeorge Christensen told Fairfax Media the penalty rates cut could cost him his seat.

Source: The Guardian March 05, 2017 05:37 UTC