With Easter now behind us, there are only two public holidays left before wages are cut for local hospitality and retail workers, thanks to the Government’s refusal to protect penalty rates.

Local Member of Federal Parliament Madeleine King said if Malcolm Turnbull cared about the impact cuts to penalty rates would have on people’s budgets, he would support Labor's Bill to protect them.

Workers employed under the hospitality, restaurant, retail, fast food and pharmacy Awards will all be impacted by the cuts to penalty rates.

“One in seven local workers will be affected by these cuts with nearly 10,000 people employed in retail and hospitality industries,” Ms King said.

Ms King said the Prime Minister could no longer pretend that the Government could not do anything about the devastating cuts to penalty rates, and must act to protect low paid workers. 

“If the Prime Minister truly cared about protecting workers he must support Labor’s Bill in the Parliament, which will stop the cuts to penalty rates and protect the take-home pay of workers now and into the future,” she said.

“Malcolm Turnbull is doing everything he can to give big business a $50 billion tax cut and doing nothing to stop a pay cut for 700,000 workers.”

Ms King said with so many local families already struggling to pay their bills, there could not be a worse time to cut workers’ take home pay. 

“There is still time for Mr Turnbull and his Government to change their stance and join with Labor to support the take-home pay of Australian workers.”