Together News

The federal election is just months away, and Peter Dutton has already made it clear what kind of government he'd lead: one that puts big business first and takes away what workers have fought for. Peter Dutton has started to announce his plan for workers. Here's a look at some of the workplace reform he has confirmed for Aussie workers: Dutton will repeal the right to disconnect and weaken casuals' job security. Dutton and the Coalition have announced that they will repeal the right to disconnect, as well as other laws introduced as part of the Closing the Loopholes bill, including more protections and a new definition for casual workers. Dutton will bow to big business on undermining wages and weakening unfair dismissal laws. Members of Dutton's Coalition have already flagged an interest in seriously considering big business proposal to weaken unfair dismissal laws and repealing the Same Job Same Pay law, allowing businesses to underpay their workers selectively. Dutton has admitted that he is talking to CEOs and Chairs in private meetings, and wants to follow their lead on lowering wage growth for workers. Dutton will seek to remove work from home rights for workers. Time and time again, workers have shown that work from home gives them better work-life balance, flexibility, higher productivity, and allow them to save money. Despite this, Peter Dutton has announced that he will force workers back into offices, to capitulate to big businesses rather than working Australians. Dutton will cut thousands of jobs during a cost-of-living crisis. Dutton has been taking notes from Elon Musk and Donald Trump and intends to cut thousands of public service workers' jobs, which will lead to longer waiting times for essential services, including disability services, Centrelink claims, and migration services, and serious reductions across agriculture and energy departments. The last time the Coalition cut public service jobs it spent billions on overpriced outsourcing, costing 28% more. Dutton will take us backwards and widen the gender pay gap (which was closing under Labor). Dutton's Coalition called the gender pay gap report useless data that breeds resentment and division. Initiatives like work from home, flexible work, and the right to disconnect - all of which Dutton has expressed he intends to repeal or remove - have been shown to be particularly beneficial to women and closing the gender pay gap. In a cost-of-living crisis, workers can’t afford a government that takes us backwards. Stopping Dutton and protecting what we’ve won will take all of us standing together. Union members have shown time and again what collective action can achieve. Let’s keep fighting for secure, fair workplaces and a future where every worker is valued.