South Coast Labour Council protesters stormed Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis’ office on Tuesday, objecting to parliamentary pay rises amid pay cuts to some workers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They delivered three quarters of a cupcake to Ms Sudmalis’ office to symbolise penalty rate cuts effective on Sunday.
“She can have her cake and eat it too,” South Coast Labour Council spokesman Arthur Rorris said.
“She is giving herself a $4500 pay rise.
“Who pays for that? The same people who get their pay cut.
“The very day she’s cutting thousands of dollars from her constituents’ pay packet, Ann Sudmalis gets the greatest gift of all.”
Mr Rorris fears cuts to penalty rates could extend beyond retail, pharmacy and hospitality industries.
“They’ve started with retail workers but once they start cutting penalty rates, everyone’s on the agenda,” Mr Rorris said.
“Who’s next? The building industry? What about the nurses, police and the others?
“We need pay packets that keep rising to keep up with the cost of living. We want people to get ahead to pay for those increasing housing and energy costs.”
