Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (12:05): The reason we're doing this, Senator Kovacic, is that we don't want to see people lose their penalty rates. That is literally under threat right now in two separate cases before the Fair Work Commission. Even if it weren't for the fact that those cases are before the Fair Work Commission now, this is about putting in place a broad principle that applies forever, whether it be to those couple of cases or more generally into the future.

We don't want to see penalty rates cut, and that's why we're seeking to pass this bill.