Bill Shorten has challenged the federal government to use its power in parliament to protect the take-home pay for working Australians.
The Labor leader on Monday introduced a private bill that aims to stop future cuts to penalty rates following the Fair Work Commission's "wrong" ruling in February.
"You can either vote to save the Sunday pay rates of young people, women, people in the regions - workers who rely upon these penalty rates ... or you can vote to endorse cutting them," Mr Shorten told the lower house.
"There is no wriggle room, there is no fence to sit on, there's no hole to go hide in."
It was an absolute travesty that from July 1, a millionaire will get a $17,000 tax cut but a retail worker will get a $77 a week pay cut, he said.
That kind of money paid for a tank of petrol, new school shoes or a trip to the doctor for many families.
"This parliament has never had a more straightforward choice than it does today."
Greens MP Adam Bandt also introduced a separate private bill to prevent the Fair Work Commission's decision from being enforced.
