Letter to the Editor, It shows how out of touch Ann Sudmalis is that she thinks Sunday & holiday pay cuts of up to $77 per week are a ‘gift’ to the people of the South Coast (Illawarra Mercury - Penalty rate cuts a gift to the youth of Gilmore: Sudmalis, 28 February 2017).
The penalty rate cuts come on top of Liberal cuts to family payments, childcare, and pensions. Wages are falling and too many people are working fewer hours than they want. And the gap between rich and poor is the worst it’s been in 75 years too.
Under the Liberals, families, including young people, are finding it harder to make ends meet.
Meanwhile, company profits have soared – up 26% in 2016 alone – and the Liberals want to give them a $50 billion tax handout to fatten their profits even more.
Why do Ann Sudmalis and the Liberals think you should take a pay cut so they can give big business a tax cut? How is that fair?
Their priorities are all wrong.
Fiona Phillips
Labor Spokesperson for Gilmore
Callala Beach Editors Note: below is a joint Media Release issued by Stephen Jones MP and Fiona Phillips today Feb 28th, 2017
Liberal MP for Gilmore, Ann Sudamalis, came under fire in question time today for describing cuts to penalty rates as a “gift” for her electorate.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has asked the Prime Minister whether Ms Sudmalis comments reflect Coalition policy.
Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Stephen Jones, who represents the neighbouring electorate of Whitlam said these comments showed a startling lack of compassion for workers in the Illawarra and South Coast who will receive a pay cut.
“There are over 41,000 workers across the Illawarra and South Coast who will have a reduction in their take home pay because of a cut to their Sunday penalty rates,” said Mr Jones.
“These are regular, low paid workers who are already struggling to make ends meet and pay for the essentials.”
Fiona Phillips, Labor Spokesperson for Gilmore said cuts to penalty rates were far from a gift to the local community.
“Less money in their pockets means less money to spend. It is going to hit the community and local businesses hard,” said Ms Phillips.
“People in Gilmore are also already struggling with housing affordability. Rental stress in places like Eurobodalla and the Shoalhaven are higher than the national average, and over three times higher than in Malcolm Turnbull’s electorate.”
“Cutting workers’ pay means they’ll just have to work longer hours to make up for the loss.” Media Release
STEPHEN JONES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES
MEMBER FOR WHITLAM
FIONA PHILLIPS
LABOR SPOKESPERSON FOR GILMORE
