Rishworth Defends New Workplace Laws, Cites Clear Election Mandate
Today’s email is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth defended new workplace laws passed through Parliament this week, saying the legislation delivers on Labor’s election promise to protect penalty rates and overtime pay.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast in Sydney, Rishworth said the changes enshrine protections in the industrial relations framework to prevent erosion of core entitlements.
“What these laws are going to do is protect the idea of paying penalty rates and overtime in awards,” Rishworth said. “Our award system is the safety net of what people get paid and it’s really important that we don’t see the concept of penalty rates and overtime being eroded so that people’s pay go backwards.”
The minister said the legislation ensures that when applications are made to vary industrial awards, workers will not be left worse off by losing penalty rates or overtime entitlements.
“This piece of legislation was to put in as a principle that if there’s attempts to vary an award or change the safety net, that we can’t see penalty rates and overtime be scrapped if people are going to go backwards,” she said. “It’s a really important concept to ensure that people’s pay packets are protected.”
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
Unions Welcome, Business Pushes Back
Union groups have welcomed the laws, arguing they will safeguard take-home pay at a time when cost-of-living pressures remain high.
“Unions are really happy about these laws. They’ve made that clear for some months now,” Rishworth acknowledged.
But business groups warned the legislation could have wider impacts than promised during the 2022 election campaign. They argue the reforms risk prompting reviews of current workplace arrangements and could create uncertainty for employers.
Rishworth rejected those criticisms, insisting Labor had been upfront about its commitment to protect penalty rates.
“I don’t accept that this was not a clear election commitment,” she said. “This was a clear election commitment that we would protect penalty rates. I don’t accept we weren’t very clear at the election, and now we’ve delivered and implemented that election commitment.”
US Trip Questions
The interview also turned to questions over Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles’ unannounced trip to Washington during a parliamentary sitting week. Reports suggested Marles was attempting to secure a face-to-face meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Rishworth declined to confirm details of Marles’ discussions, but emphasized the importance of ongoing engagement with Australia’s “closest ally.”
“Richard Marles is our Deputy Prime Minister, our Defence Minister. He had a number of meetings with the Vice President, the Defence Secretary and the Secretary of State,” Rishworth said. “It’s not surprising that we engage very closely with the United States and these meetings are part of that engagement.”
Pressed on whether Albanese has a meeting scheduled with Trump, Rishworth said she was not present at the Washington talks and would not disclose Cabinet discussions.
“What I would say is the Prime Minister has had three really warm phone calls with the President. We continue to work as long-standing nations that have worked together, and we’ll continue to do that,” she said.
AUKUS Partnership
Rishworth stressed that security cooperation with the U.S. remains a priority, particularly under the AUKUS security pact.
“This engagement has been quite regular with the U.S. Of course, they’re our close ally and we continue to work with them on important projects like the AUKUS project,” she said. “They are a really, really important partner in our region.”
Defending the Timing
The minister dismissed suggestions that Marles’ trip was unusual or poorly planned. “These meetings are not surprising,” she said. “Our relationship with the U.S. as a close ally is incredibly important.”
When asked about the optics of leaving during a parliamentary sitting week, she reiterated that high-level engagement is part of routine diplomacy.
A Lighter Note
The interview ended on a lighter exchange, with Rishworth asked to share a personal annoyance after a long week in Canberra.
“Well, actually, it’s probably when I get home that I have a grievance,” she said. “There is something about that inflection of ‘mum’ being yelled out from another room, usually many times in a row. That is the thing that when you get home from a long day, having that yelled out on multiple occasions is the problem.”
Why It Matters
The passage of the workplace reforms marks a significant step in Labor’s industrial relations agenda. The government argues the laws restore fairness and strengthen the safety net for workers who rely on penalty rates and overtime to support their families.
The political debate, however, is likely to continue, with business groups warning of potential consequences for employers and workplace flexibility.
At the same time, scrutiny of Marles’ Washington trip highlights the balancing act for the Albanese government as it navigates both domestic economic pressures and international security commitments.
For now, Rishworth maintains that the government is keeping its promises to workers while strengthening ties with Australia’s key ally.
Got a News Tip?
Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!