Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I don't remember the exact circumstances of the case you've referred to or the one that I was referring to before. My recollection is that around about that time there was a decision made by the commission to vary the terms of an award to reduce penalty rates as opposed to an agreement. What I'm saying is that that kind of decision would not be possible after this bill is passed. It wouldn't be possible to cut the penalty rates and the award. I'm also saying that this bill won't automatically overturn that kind of past decision. If someone wants to increase penalty rates from their current level, then they have to apply to the commission and vary the award. They had to do that yesterday. They have to do that today. They will have to do that after this bill is passed.