Page 813 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 21 March 2017
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person is able to plan for the future and can effectively budget to meet the everyday needs of their families.
Citizens Advice is a network of 316 independent charities throughout the UK. It recently conducted a poll on the topic of income security and found that income security was as important to respondents as their level of pay. Income security was seen as more important than a job’s location or its opportunities for advancement. It was also the top response when people were asked what makes them feel very secure in life. These responses reflect the significance of income security for our everyday health and wellbeing.
The Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates puts this at risk. The Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates will usher in increased uncertainty for those Canberra shift and weekend workers in the hospitality, restaurant, fast food and retail industries. The decision also raises questions around future decisions on penalty rates for our emergency service men and women, and other shift workers.
Income security for shift and weekend workers is of great importance, and decisions by the Fair Work Commission, supported by those opposite, are of great concern. Any decision which fosters greater uncertainty and insecurity will further compound issues of inequality and negatively impact the overall health and wellbeing of these workers—some of the most vulnerable in our society.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (4.05): As I have already outlined in my previous points of order, it is the firm view of the opposition that this issue sits within the remit of the commonwealth and that it is outside the responsibility of the ACT executive and this parliament. There is no need to elaborate on my personal views on this issue, as they are well known.
Unlike the CFMEU faction sitting on the backbench of the government, the opposition will continue to focus on the important issues that we in this place can influence, the issues that we were all elected to address. We are more focused on ensuring that community organisations are not held to ransom over government funding and that the health system is adequately resourced to provide the level of care and support that Canberrans should be able to expect when they need it most.
Madam Assistant Speaker, one need only look at the government’s agenda to realise that they have no plan for this city and are devoid of any new ideas.
Ms Cheyne: A point of order on relevance.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Lee): He has nine minutes to go, so I am pretty sure he will use the remaining nine minutes for the MPI.
Ms Cheyne: He is taking his time.
MR WALL: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. The continued practice by those on the opposite side of raising federal issues in this place is merely window-dressing for a vision and seeks to highlight that the ACT government is now more intent on
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