Workplace Penalty

Labor and the trade union movement are accusing the federal government of failing to stand up for workers, after the Fair Work Commission decided to cut weekend penalty rates for hospitality, retail and fast-food workers. The Commission's decision will see many workers lose their double-time pay on Sundays, and replaced with a lower rate.

The unions say the government should have done more to stop what it sees as an attack on the country's lowest-paid workers, and are calling on the Prime Minister to intervene.