Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

Ever since the FWC decision on penalty rate cuts came, the attacks on the government and supporters of those cuts have been relentless, especially from the unions and the Labor opposition—even though the FWC was set up by Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten and even though the opposition leader said on 3AW three times during last year's election that he would abide by the umpire's decision. Labor has run a very clever campaign pinning the penalty rate cuts on the government, and that has washed off on senators who want to respect the commission's independence. The emails and the insulting tweets have not stopped: 'What would you bleepers with your snouts in the trough know about doing it tough? What would you silver spoons and nobs know about the workers and about being broke?' Et cetera et cetera et cetera, as Yul Brynner would say.

My personal position on Sunday penalty rates has been very public since my radio days. I believe they should be the same as Saturday rates. I know a lot of small business owners would agree. But in my maiden speech I promised I would listen. On this, I supported the umpire's decision. I have decided now to go to the third umpire, the review umpire, you the people—the Sunday workers, the single mothers and the university students who study all week and only work on Sundays. On my Senate salary an extra few bucks does not mean much. Losing a few would not matter, but I remember the days, believe it or not, when it did. This is not about my personal circumstances, or even my personal opinion, it is about what is best for the community and what is best for some of our lowest paid workers.

There are emails like this one that say things like: 'Everyday Australians rely on this income to make ends meet. We sacrifice our family time on weekends.' Another one: 'What justice is there by decreasing wages of the most vulnerable? My wife works Sundays cleaning at a shopping centre.' So I have consulted the third umpire, and the third umpire's decision is that cuts to Sunday penalty rates are O-U-T out!