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

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (12:10): I am reminded that, in addition to enterprise bargaining agreements being available for women in that situation, I said earlier that this bill won't have any impact on individual flexibility agreements. There still are opportunities for women in that situation to reach agreements with their employers.

What won't be possible is for an employer to say to a woman in the instances you are talking about, 'You're going to be paid the award, and that means you won't get penalty rates, because the award doesn't allow for penalty rates any longer.' That's what will be stopped.