Latest news with #TimWilson
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Liberal Goldstein MP Tim Wilson says more consultation needed with small business on penalty rate ban
The Coalition has indicated it will delay Labor's proposed laws to ban the reduction of penalty and overtime rates in modern awards, with Liberal MP Tim Wilson stating more information was needed on the impact on small businesses. A new Bill, which was introduced by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth on Thursday, will also override the Fair Work Commission (FWC) from substituting the entitlements if it reduces the overall take-home pay of even a single worker on a modern award. However, Mr Wilson, the Coalition's small business and industrial relations spokesman, accused Labor of trying to 'ram' the legislation through parliament and signalled the opposition was likely to push the Bill to an inquiry. While he confirmed he'd reviewed the legislation, Mr Wilson said Ms Rishworth was still unable to answer how the Bill would affect small businesses. 'There is a simple reality. There are no penalty rates on jobs that do not exist,' he said. 'The Coalition supports penalty rates. We support higher wages … but that isn't what we're getting from this government with their approach, where their focus is how they do their pay-offs as part of their legislative victory lap, rather than focusing on how to improve the economic conditions that list the standards of living and the wages of Australians.' While Mr Wilson said the Coalition would 'obviously talk to parties from across the parliament', the opposition had yet to take a firm stance on the Bill. Ms Rishworth urged the Coalition and Greens to support the legislation and said it was a 'key commitment' Labor took to the election. 'My message to the opposition is that they need to listen to the decision of the Australian people,' she said. 'The Australian people clearly back this government to get on with the job of getting wages moving and ensuring that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn.' In response, Mr Wilson said it was proper and 'standard' process to get an 'assessment of the impact of legislation'. 'This is standard, so they can make the claims about what their mandate may be, it doesn't mean it gives them a right to override the standard processes of legislative passage,' he said. As it stands, Labor will need either support of the Greens or the Coalition if it is to pass the legislation in the Senate. While the Greens have confirmed the party has reviewed the legislation, it has yet to reach a position. Greens workplace relations spokeswoman Barbara Pocock said the party was having a 'close look' at the Bill and would make a decision 'in the coming days'. She also pushed for stronger workers' rights like a four-day work week without a reduction in pay. Responding to whether the Greens would support pushing the legislation to an inquiry, she said the party would consider all options. 'This is a no-cost bill for small business, as I read it, but as I said earlier, I've just received the Bill,' she said. 'We're having a close look, and we will want to make sure that there are no unintended consequences and that we get the best possible Bill that we can for some of Australia's most vulnerable workers.' The election promise was prompted by a FWC review prompted by the Australian Retailers Association to allow senior management to take a 25 per cent wage increase above minimum award entitlements in exchange for overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and rest breaks.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Push to delay penalty rates ban
The Coalition has indicated it will delay Labor's proposed laws to ban the reduction of penalty and overtime rates in modern awards, with Liberal MP Tim Wilson stating more information was needed on the impact on small businesses. A new Bill, which was introduced by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth on Thursday, will also override the Fair Work Commission (FWC) from substituting the entitlements if it reduces the overall take-home pay of even a single worker on a modern award. However, Mr Wilson, the Coalition's small business and industrial relations spokesman, accused Labor of trying to 'ram' the legislation through parliament and signalled the opposition was likely to push the Bill to an inquiry. While he confirmed he'd reviewed the legislation, Mr Wilson said Ms Rishworth was still unable to answer how the Bill would affect small businesses. 'There is a simple reality. There are no penalty rates on jobs that do not exist,' he said. Tim Wilson said small businesses needed to be consulted on the proposed Bill. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'The Coalition supports penalty rates. We support higher wages … but that isn't what we're getting from this government with their approach, where their focus is how they do their pay-offs as part of their legislative victory lap, rather than focusing on how to improve the economic conditions that list the standards of living and the wages of Australians.' While Mr Wilson said the Coalition would 'obviously talk to parties from across the parliament', the opposition had yet to take a firm stance on the Bill. Ms Rishworth urged the Coalition and Greens to support the legislation and said it was a 'key commitment' Labor took to the election. 'My message to the opposition is that they need to listen to the decision of the Australian people,' she said. 'The Australian people clearly back this government to get on with the job of getting wages moving and ensuring that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn.' In response, Mr Wilson said it was proper and 'standard' process to get an 'assessment of the impact of legislation'. 'This is standard, so they can make the claims about what their mandate may be, it doesn't mean it gives them a right to override the standard processes of legislative passage,' he said. As it stands, Labor will need either support of the Greens or the Coalition if it is to pass the legislation in the Senate. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth introduced the Bill on Thursday. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia While the Greens have confirmed the party has reviewed the legislation, it has yet to reach a position. Greens workplace relations spokeswoman Barbara Pocock said the party was having a 'close look' at the Bill and would make a decision 'in the coming days'. She also pushed for stronger workers' rights like a four-day work week without a reduction in pay. Responding to whether the Greens would support pushing the legislation to an inquiry, she said the party would consider all options. 'This is a no-cost bill for small business, as I read it, but as I said earlier, I've just received the Bill,' she said. 'We're having a close look, and we will want to make sure that there are no unintended consequences and that we get the best possible Bill that we can for some of Australia's most vulnerable workers.' The election promise was prompted by a FWC review prompted by the Australian Retailers Association to allow senior management to take a 25 per cent wage increase above minimum award entitlements in exchange for overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and rest breaks. The submission has been backed by the supermarket giants, plus beauty giant Mecca, as well as Kmart, Costco and 7-Eleven.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Australia lifts biosecurity import restrictions on US beef, a Trump administration grievance
Australia has lifted biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States, one of the key grievances that led the Trump administration to impose tariffs on Australia. The US has been able to export its beef to Australia since 2019, but certain products were banned, including beef sourced from Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the US. The government says the US introduced more robust movement controls earlier this year, meaning cattle could be traced back through the supply chain to their original farms, allowing more certainty that products were not carrying disease or pests dangerous to Australia. "The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity," Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. "The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade. "The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks." Reacting to the announcement, Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson said Australia's national interest must be preserved. "Biosecurity shouldn't be compromised and I really hope the government knows what it's doing," Mr Wilson said. The vast majority of beef trade between Australia and the US is of Australian beef sold to America. $14 billion in Australian beef was sold last year, with the US being the single largest market, followed by China. But a 10 per cent tariff on Australian beef was imposed by US President Donald Trump in April, with export restrictions on US beef being one of the administration's key grievances. "Australia's market remains closed to fresh US beef and beef products," the administration complained in its Foreign Trade Barriers report earlier this year. Australia closed its market to US beef in 2003 after fatal neurological disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in American cattle. A report by Meat and Livestock Australia released in June found the beef tariff had not hurt trade, which had risen 32 per cent year-to-date.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Herald NOW panel talks boy racers, poverty crisis, inflation and best country in the world
Maxin Institute Executive Director Tim Wilson and The Prosperity Project Podcast Host Nadine Higgens talk boy racers, poverty crisis, inflation and best country in the world.
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Albanese government pushing forward with taxes ‘nobody voted for'
Liberal MP Tim Wilson says the Labor government is pushing forward with taxes that 'nobody voted for'. Australia's most influential business group have railed against the implementation of a 2035 emission reduction target larger than 65 per cent, stating that the move would impede economic growth and stymie manufacturing. 'Publicly released research shows that Australians didn't go into the last election thinking they would be voting for a family savings tax on unrealised capital gains,' Mr Wilson told Sky News host Steve Price. 'This tax roundtable is only designed to do one thing – which is to float taxes that Labor had not raised before the last election and then put them on the table.'
