Labor slams Scott Morrison for industrial relations bill, could slash wages by $14,000

The PM has been accused of threatening up to $14,000 in wages for some workers under a proposed industrial relations reform as Labor goes on the attack.

The ALP has jumped on recent comments by Scott Morrison to accuse the Prime Minister of planning to slash workers’ pay and conditions.

According to Labor, Mr Morrison plans to bring back “extreme” workplace laws if he wins the May 21 election, with the Opposition claiming it would make life tougher for countless Aussies during a time many were already grappling with the rising cost of living.

The ALP claims the Coalition will bring back the bill if elected on May 21. Picture: News Regional Media

The new allegation seems to suggest a turning point in Anthony Albanese’s election campaign, with the 59-year-old moving into attack mode yesterday, repeatedly suggesting the government was running a “scare campaign” against Labor’s energy policies.

It also marks the first time controversial industrial relations issues have been raised during the campaign.

Labor’s fresh accusation is based on comments made by Mr Morrison last weekend, with the PM saying he would reintroduce the omnibus industrial relations bill, which was shot down in the Senate during the Covid crisis.

“[We are] ensuring that we can go forward and pursue those legislative changes that we wanted to pursue,” the PM said over the Easter weekend.

“Remember, they were the product of getting unions together, employers together, over countless numbers of hours to ensure that we can come up with practical things that would make the industrial relations system work better.”

Scott Morrison made the comment last weekend. Picture: Jason Edwards

And on Monday, Mr Morrison announced his government would move to allow longer pay agreements on greenfield developments as part of the bill he would push for if he was re-elected next month.

But according to Labor, the Coalition’s changes would lead to a $10,000-per-year pay cut for retail managers who work overnight, while a part-time disability care employee working a Friday to Sunday shift could lose more than $14,000 a year.

A part-time carparking attendant working only three days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays, could lose more than $13,000 a year, while a butcher working part-time, Thursday to Sunday, could lose nearly $7000 a year.

The ALP claims those alarming figures come from the Government’s own online fair pay calculator.

The bill was shot down in the Senate during the Covid crisis. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

While the PM has not yet confirmed whether the Better Off Overall Test would be removed altogether or watered down if he secures a second term, the Opposition says if it were scrapped, the industrial relations laws would allow for agreements that reduce pay and conditions for employees – with benefits such as shift allowances and penalty rates at risk.

The new approach from Labor comes after the election campaign took a more aggressive turn on Tuesday, with both leaders coming out swinging after their “truce” over the Easter holiday.

Yesterday, Mr Morrison slammed Labor’s claim that the government will extend the cashless debit card to include pensioners as a “disgusting lie”, while Anthony Albanese revived his party’s old Mediscare tactics from 2016, repeating the words “scare campaign” six times during his fiery press conference.

Both leaders will face off tonight for the first debate of the campaign, which will be held in Brisbane at 7pm AEST.

The pair will answer questions from undecided voters, with the forum moderated by political reporter Kieran Gilbert and broadcast on Sky News.