Tuesday 03 February 2015

One in six Victorian workers will be worse off under the Abbott Government’s planned assault on the minimum wage.

Despite Tony Abbott saying he was “not interested” in touching the minimum wage, the Productivity Commission will continue its review – under the terms of reference initiated by the Abbott Government.

Topics highlighted for review by the Productivity Commission include substitutes for the minimum wage and potential changes to the Fair Work Commission’s wage setting criteria.

Under the recently released issues papers, the Abbott Government is also looking at drastic changes to penalty rates, unfair dismissal and anti-bullying laws.

Minister for Industrial Relations, Natalie Hutchins, said any proposed changes would hurt the one in six Victorians receiving the minimum award wage, and other workers across the state.

Ms Hutchins also noted that the Victorian Liberals were still yet to comment on the issue.

This comes on top of the former Napthine Government’s 2014 submission to the Fair Work Commission opposing an increase to the minimum wage.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations, Natalie Hutchins

“Tony Abbott says he has no interest in changing the minimum wage – and yet his government has initiated this review. Either his comments are hollow or his agenda is hidden.”

“One in every six Victorian workers will suffer if the Abbott Government gets its way.”

“If the Victorian Liberals care about the state’s workers at all, it’s time they reject this resurrection of WorkChoices.”