Dutton’s plan: remove workers’ rights, drive down wages and rob the next generation of a decent retirement
Media Release - May 16, 2024 ACTU
Peter Dutton has outlined the future for working people under a Coalition Government – more insecure work, reversing improvements in workplace laws that are delivering wage increases, and leaving workers poorer in retirement.
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The ACTU condemns the Opposition Leader for attacking workers’ rights in his speech, and a housing policy that would drive up house prices and raid the superannuation accounts of working people.
The Dutton plan would see a return to workers’ wages stagnating and more insecure jobs.
The Labor Government’s workplace laws – including equal pay, multi-employer bargaining and same job same pay for labour-hire workers – along with their support for lifting minimum wages and aged care workers’ wages, have contributed to higher wage growth for workers, alleviating cost-of-living pressures.
Peter Dutton in his budget reply speech promised to send workers’ wages and rights backwards.
Quotes attributable to ACTU President Michele O’Neil:
“Tonight Peter Dutton committed to getting rid of the workplace laws that are finally seeing real wages grow, after 10 years of wage stagnation by the last Coalition Government.
“Not satisfied to preside over a decade of frozen real wages, Peter Dutton tonight told workers that if he is elected, he will again commit the Coalition to running an economy based on low wages.
“He made it absolutely explicit that he will turn secure jobs into casual jobs.
“Moreover, he has told us tonight he is coming after workers’ superannuation. The Liberals’ policy will not only drive-up house prices but plunge people into poverty in their retirement.
“This is an absurd policy. The median super balance for someone under 25 years old is about $4,000.
“The Coalition’s policy is a false promise and totally out of touch with the reality of people’s lives. It will make people poorer in retirement, and will not make housing more affordable, in fact it will have the opposite impact.”