Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025; Reference to Committee

Opened the debate

Wilson proposed sending the bill to the Standing Committee on Education and Employment. He requested they review it and deliver an advisory report by 7 October 2025. Wilson stated the legislation was badly written and lacked proper stakeholder consultation, including with small businesses. He noted concerns from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Industry Group that the bill would lower productivity and complicate hiring. Wilson said the government had not finished a regulatory impact statement or answered questions about how many small businesses were affected. He argued the bill would hurt job creation and workers by limiting economic opportunities for small enterprises.

Government response

Burke opposed the motion, arguing that the opposition consistently opposed wage increases while claiming they would cause inflation and job losses. Burke stated that penalty rates help workers manage living costs and that removing them would constitute a pay cut. Burke pointed out that the motion referred the bill to the Standing Committee on Education and Employment, which does not exist. Burke noted that voting for the motion would send the bill nowhere, comparing it to referring it to the shadow cabinet. Burke indicated the government would vote against the motion due to its procedural error and policy disagreement.