The South Australian Business Chamber is disappointed Nick Xenophon has announced he will support Labor’s Bill to reverse the penalty rates decision demonstrating he cannot be trusted to stick to his own policies and principles in the face of political pressure.
Labor’s own Brendan O’Connor, despite Xenophon supporting the Bill, has questioned his motives stating Mr Xenophon is “worried about his future, not the future of workers”.
The South Australian Business Chamber agrees, with CEO, Nigel McBride stating, “This backflip is simply another decision based on his own self- interest.”
“Mr Xenophon contradicts his own NXT website which supports the Fair Work Commission’s role as the independent umpire, demonstrating his lack of backbone,” said Mr McBride.
“While Mr Xenophon and the Unions claim they are supporting workers, who is supporting the unemployed? The penalty rates decision considered the overwhelming economic evidence put to the Fair Work Commission that penalty rates are stifling employment. A point Mr Xenophon seems to have missed or at worst, ignored.”
“South Australia has a staggering youth unemployment rate with one in 6 youth under the age of 25 unemployed and a total 57,800 people across all ages out of work. Obviously, Mr Xenophon is not looking for their votes at the next election.”
For too long South Australian businesses have been crippled by Sunday penalty rates. Adjusted Sunday rates will help South Australia’s 90,800 underemployed workers. By modernising these rates more of our State’s young and unemployed will be offered jobs.
“Xenophon is attempting to put another nail in the coffin of small South Australian businesses who are not able to negotiate away penalty rates with the Unions, in the manner that their larger competitors have,” Mr McBride said.
Mr Xenophon’s decision to support Labor’s Bill is harmful to the same businesses he sought to protect when he introduced a Bill to Parliament in 2011 to exempt small businesses from paying penalty rates; demonstrating Mr Xenophon’s willingness to perform political backflips.
The Fair Work Commission concluded that the deterrent effect of high Sunday penalty rates did not meet the objectives of the Fair Work Act to provide a balanced framework for national economic prosperity and social inclusion for all Australians. This is evidenced in high unemployment, businesses not opening in peak times and business closures.
The South Australian Business Chamber calls Mr Xenophon to support South Australia’s small business community, the unemployed and underemployed and to respect the Fair Work Commission’s independent decision. It is vital the decision of Australia’s independent umpire is implemented the same as any other.
