Greens workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that weekend rates are a right, not a privilege for private school fees, and Labor linking the two is a losing strategy.

“Forget about private school, without weekend rates many people couldn’t pay the rent,” Mr Bandt said.

“With youth allowance so low and housing costs so high, many young people rely on weekend and penalty rates to pay the rent, stay in study and have enough to eat.”

Greens industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today called on the Prime Minister to terminate the Trade Union Royal Commission following Dyson Heydon’s decision to stay on as the head of the TURC. Mr Bandt said that if the Prime Minister insists on continuing an inquiry, he must open up any new appointment and terms of reference to the Parliament.

“Agreeing to attend a Liberal fundraiser doesn’t pass the pub test. The Commissioner deciding himself that he’s not biased won’t change that,” Mr Bandt said.

Greens Deputy Leader and employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the government’s response to the 457 visa review would not stop the rorting of the working visa system and instead called on the government to make local skills development and jobs a top priority.

“Not only will the government’s plans not stop employers’ abuse of temporary work visas, they do nothing to grow jobs for locals across the country,” Mr Bandt said.

“At same time as claiming to toughen 457 requirements the government is in fact making testing weaker.”

The Senate today backed a Greens push to remove the minimum wage and penalty rates from the Productivity Commission’s workplace relations review, building pressure on the Abbott government to declare its hand on the issues, said Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for workplace relations Adam Bandt MP.

“Last week, Minister Abetz declared the government would not touch the minimum wage or penalty rates after the next election and that he was ‘surprised’ the Productivity Commission was looking at the issues,” said Mr Bandt.

Tony Abbott’s offer of real pay rises to ADF personnel must be the start of a new approach to public sector bargaining, said Greens’ Employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.

“If the government can give real pay rises to ADF personnel, which we welcome, the government can do it in the public service too,” Mr Bandt said.

“The Abbott government has been pushing cuts in real wages and conditions for public servants, resulting in unprecedented levels of industrial action.”

In response to Employment Minister Eric Abetz’s ruling out changes to penalty rates and the minimum wage after the next election, the Greens Deputy Leader and industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today announced the Greens would move to stop the Productivity Commission examining these in its inquiry into the workplace relations framework when the Senate sits again next week.

“The Minister has expressed ‘surprise’ that the government-initiated Productivity Commission inquiry is looking at penalty rates and the minimum wage,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens Deputy Leader and Employment and Workplace Relations Spokesperson Adam Bandt today supported unions’ push for family friendly work conditions and called for Parliament to take action.

“Rigid hours make it impossible for people to get control over balancing work and home, especially when they have a new child.”

“All employees should have more control over their working hours and arrangements.”

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt will this morning introduce a private member's bill into the House of Representatives that will allow employers to boost superannuation payments to women employees.

The Sex Discrimination Amendment (Boosting Superannuation for Women) Bill 2014 will ensure employers are able to contribute more super for women employees than male employees without being considered to have breached anti-discrimination legislation.

Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson on Finance, Employment and Workplace Relations Adam Bandt MP today responded to Tony Abbott’s claims that we can’t afford to increase wages of our public servants in line with inflation.

“Tony Abbott says we can’t afford for public servants’ wages to keep pace with increases in the cost of living. This would see cuts to their real wages in coming years,” said Mr Bandt.

I move that the Fair Work Amendment (Protected Industrial Action) Regulation 2014, as contained in Select Legislative Instrument 2014 No. 95 and made under the Fair Work Act 2009, be disallowed.