Premier Daniel Andrews appeared today alongside Margarita, a hotel cleaner of 30 years, to announce a move to examine the impact of the Fair Work Commission’s penalty rate cuts.

Margarita, who is seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister, stands to lose $2000 from her wage and has been forced to delay her retirement.

The Andrews Labor Government has moved a motion to establish a Parliamentary Committee to examine the impact of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates.

The Penalty Rates and Fair Pay Select Committee will look at the impact of penalty rate cuts on award reliant workers, women, and young people across our state.

It will explore how the state can act to protect workers and prepare a final report by 1 September 2017.

The Commission’s decision will result in a cut to a range of Sunday and holiday penalty rates, hitting young workers and women in the fast food, retail and hospitality sectors the hardest.

The Commission is now considering even more penalty cuts in the hair and beauty, tourism, clubs and restaurant industries.  This could leave even more Victorians facing a cut to their take home pay.

Despite the widespread damage this will have on many workers the Victorian Liberals support the cuts.

In stark contrast, the Labor Government made a submission to the FWC review strongly opposing any change to penalty rates.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“We want to hear from ordinary Victorians about how this decision will hurt their ability to earn a decent wage and look after their families.”

“We will also be looking at ways to protect  thousands of Victorians from these attacks on their living conditions.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins

“The Liberals support these cuts and they refuse to defend Victorian workers against these attacks.”

“Penalty rates are fair, and I will fight to ensure that every worker in this state is treated fairly.”