In federal Parliament on Thursday, Labor’s bill to block the decrease in penalty rates across the nation was supported by the Greens and the crossbench. 

Earlier this year, the Fair Work Commission recommended slashing weekend penalty rates for those in the retail, hospitality and fast-food sectors. 

The decision was set to mean some full-time workers could go from receiving 200 per cent of their wage on a Sunday to receiving 150 per cent. 

Following the announcement in February, the Launceston community was divided, with some saying the changes would help businesses owners, but others worried it would impact low-income earners in the state. 

Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart said the cuts would affect some of Australia’s lowest paid workers who could not afford cuts to their wages. 

“People are struggling on the margins, they’re having trouble paying for rent, looking after the kids, putting food on the table, petrol in the car,” Mr Hart said. 

“I understand why the Australian public feel this way about cuts to our lowest paid workers.” 

But Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said the decision made on Thursday was a “huge vote of no confidence in Labor’s own Fair Work Commission”.

The changes were planning to take effect on July 1 but the bill is now set to head to the Lower House. 

The minimum wage in Australia currently sits at $17.70 an hour. 

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