Rudd has slashed worker support: HREOC

During Senate Estimates this evening, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission confirmed $1.8 million of funding to support workplace related complaints has been cut by the Rudd Government.

"The Government is trying to justify the cuts by saying Work Choices will eventually be abolished. However, they do not intend to re-introduce unfair dismissal protections until 2010," said Australian Greens spokesperson on Industrial Relations, Senator Rachel Siewert late this evening.

"This leaves another two years of workers not being protected by unfair dismissal laws and HREOC struggling to meet increased demand."

There has been a marked increase in the numbers of workplace complaints received by HREOC - who has indicated it has no reason to think the level of complaints will drop in the near future.

"For a Government that came into office on the back of a campaign for workers rights, it is not actually doing very much to help employees facing discrimination or unfair dismissal right now," said Senator Siewert

"Most of Work Choices is alive and well at the moment. The ALP is making things worse by making it more difficult for employees to get redress against their employers for discrimination," she concluded.

For More Information:

Chris Twomey
Email: chris.twomey@aph.gov.au
Phone: 0407 725 025