Labor MP Murray Watt slams Coalition plan to repeal right to disconnect laws
Labor and the Coalition have attacked each other after Peter Dutton was accused of trying to scrap hard-won work-life protections under right to disconnect laws. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Senator Murray Watt has warned Australians that their weekends are “at risk”, accusing Peter Dutton of trying to scrap hard-won work-life protections.
Speaking in Brisbane on Saturday, Watt said the Coalition’s promise to repeal Labor’s “right to disconnect” laws would force workers back into being contactable by their boss after hours.
“One of the important things that the Albanese Government has done to ensure people have more work-life balance is introduce the right to disconnect,” he said.
“Basically, it’s a protection for workers… if their boss contacts them after hours when they’re not being paid… they can’t be punished if they don’t return that phone call or that email.”
“So it is a worry that Peter Dutton and the Coalition have said that if they win this election, they will remove the right to disconnect.”
“Under an Albanese Labor Government, we’ll continue to have that right to disconnect. Under Peter Dutton, the Coalition, that will go. We saw Peter Dutton come after work from home, and now he’s after your weekend as well.”
Senator Watt cited early data showing a reduction in unpaid overtime. “What we’ve already seen as a result of some independent research is there’s been a significant reduction in the amount of unpaid overtime that Australians are working. It’s down by a third compared to what it was before we brought the right to disconnect in.”
Coalition industrial relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash has fired back at her Labor counterpart, saying: “The only thing that ever comes out of Murray Watt’s mouth is a scare campaign. Murray Watt promised Australians prior to the last election that real wages would go forward under the Albanese government. It is a fact that they have gone backwards over the term of their government.”
“It is a fact despite what Murray Watt says, real wages went forward over the term of the former Coalition government.
“In relation to the right to disconnect, that was a...deal done at the last minute with their coalition partners, the Australian Greens.
“It is costly, it is confusing and it is complex.
“And yes, we have said to businesses in Australia (we will repeal), but in particular small businesses who are no longer picking up the phone to talk to their employees, because they are too scared that they will be fined $18,000.
“But as far as Murray Watt’s concerned, judge that man on what he said prior to the election, because what he told Australians has now turned out to be a lie.”
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