Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, has come under fire after voting against a Bill introduced to reverse the 25 per cent Sunday penalty rate pay cut for workers in fast-food, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and pharmacies on Mann Street in Gosford.
Senator Deborah O’Neill branded the rejection as a “disgraceful attack on hard-working locals.
“Ms Wicks and her Government will not lift a finger to stop a pay cut for hard-working locals, but will gleefully give a $50 billion tax cut to big business,” Sen O’Neill said.
In February, the Fair Work Commission announced that Sunday penalty rates paid in retail, fast food, hospitality and pharmacy industries will be reduced from the existing levels.
Ms Wicks fired back at the Senator’s comments and said yet again, Labor was putting politics and the interests of union bosses ahead of local small businesses and jobs.
“There are many small businesses on the Central Coast who can’t afford to open on Sunday,” she said.
“There are also family business owners who would prefer to hire a local, but can’t afford to, so work themselves, for free.
“This decision might help these local small businesses and create more local jobs,” Ms Wicks said.
Media release,
Feb 27, 2017
Deborah O’Neill,
Senator for NSW
Media statement,
Mar 3, 2017
Lucy Wicks, Member for Robertson