Support for FWC decision

ALAN Hollway (27/6). My salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent body which sets pay rates for federal politicians, judges and public servants. They are not voted on. Also, in a tourism-focused area like Cairns, you’ll find most hospitality industry employers pay above award wages anyway to attract quality staff.

Therefore the penalty rate changes do not affect them.

For every employee who would prefer not to work evenings and weekends, there is another who enjoys the social aspect of working in a bar or nightclub, is studying during the week or a parent juggling childcare.

And for those employees who will be affected by the staged reduction in penalty rates on Sundays and public holidays, with underemployment a very real issue there is every chance they might get offered extra hours or shifts, especially if a small-business owner can now afford to take a rare day off.

So I will continue to support the Fair Work Commission’s decision. Warren Entsch, Federal Member for Leichhardt