Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
MEDIA RELEASE
8 FEBRUARY 2024
LABOR VOTE FOR CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN RIGHT TO DISCONNECT LAW
The Albanese Government’s chaotic handling of the “right to disconnect’’ law ended in farce today when Labor voted in favour of jail penalties for bosses who breach Fair Work Commission orders not to contact their employees outside of work hours.
The Coalition voted against the amendment which enshrined in the Fair Work Act the possible criminal penalty. The Coalition voted against the entire so-called Loopholes Bill.
“The Albanese Government’s rushed and chaotic approach to this Bill was on full display today. They were so desperate to get this through today they voted for bad legislation,’’ Senator Cash said.
“Labor did a dodgy deal with the Greens over the right to disconnect laws and then voted for the Greens amendment which contained criminal penalties – they could have voted against it,’’ she said.
“They tried to put through a rushed amendment after the fact – we refused to grant leave to support Labor’s sham legislative process,’’ Senator Cash said.
“There was limited time to examine more than 100 amendments including the Greens amendment which will result in significant uncertainty for Australia businesses,’’ she said.
“The fact that the Greens and Labor couldn’t get it right shows that the amendment itself cannot be trusted,’’ Senator Cash said.
“It’s now up to Labor to fix their own mess and accept they voted for criminal penalties in this legislation,’’ she said.
ENDS
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