Tony Abbott’s offer of real pay rises to ADF personnel must be the start of a new approach to public sector bargaining, said Greens’ Employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.

“If the government can give real pay rises to ADF personnel, which we welcome, the government can do it in the public service too,” Mr Bandt said.

“The Abbott government has been pushing cuts in real wages and conditions for public servants, resulting in unprecedented levels of industrial action.”

In response to Employment Minister Eric Abetz’s ruling out changes to penalty rates and the minimum wage after the next election, the Greens Deputy Leader and industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today announced the Greens would move to stop the Productivity Commission examining these in its inquiry into the workplace relations framework when the Senate sits again next week.

“The Minister has expressed ‘surprise’ that the government-initiated Productivity Commission inquiry is looking at penalty rates and the minimum wage,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens Deputy Leader and industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today rejected the Australian Hotels Association’s call for a two-tiered system for public holidays that would cut penalty rates for workers on a number of public holidays throughout the year.

“This is Part One of big business’s attack on Australians’ rights at work,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens Deputy Leader and Employment and Workplace Relations Spokesperson Adam Bandt today supported unions’ push for family friendly work conditions and called for Parliament to take action.

“Rigid hours make it impossible for people to get control over balancing work and home, especially when they have a new child.”

“All employees should have more control over their working hours and arrangements.”

Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt says the business and government push on minimum wages and penalty rates is likely to fail in the Senate after the next election.

Responding to reports of a renewed IR push by business leader, Mr Bandt, the Greens spokesperson on industrial relations, said the Greens would block any moves to cut minimum wages or penalty rates before or after the next election.

"The minimum wage should be increased not cut," Mr Bandt said.

Acting Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP today said the government is continuing to turn a blind-eye to white-collar wrongdoing.

“Where is the Royal Commission into allegations of white-collar wrongdoing, like the financial planning schemes that saw people lose their home or the Reserve Bank bribery scandals?” Mr Bandt said.

“We have heard many stories about the devastation everyday Australians have faced from trusting supposed white-collar experts, yet the government fails to respond.”

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt will this morning introduce a private member's bill into the House of Representatives that will allow employers to boost superannuation payments to women employees.

The Sex Discrimination Amendment (Boosting Superannuation for Women) Bill 2014 will ensure employers are able to contribute more super for women employees than male employees without being considered to have breached anti-discrimination legislation.

Greens Deputy Leader and workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt has given notice of a private member's bill allowing employers to boost superannuation payments to women employees.

The Sex Discrimination Amendment (Boosting Superannuation for Women) Bill 2014 will ensure employers are able to contribute more super for women employees than male employees without being considered to have breached anti-discrimination legislation.

Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson on Workplace Relations Adam Bandt MP and Greens spokesperson on Infrastructure Senator Janet Rice today declared their support for the Tandara Spirit workers taking industrial action in Port Philip Bay and called on Tony Abbott to protect Australian shipping and jobs.

“By taking this action, the Tandara workers are not only standing up for their jobs – they are bringing important conversations into the public that the government has been ignoring," said Mr Bandt.

Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson on Finance, Employment and Workplace Relations Adam Bandt MP today responded to Tony Abbott’s claims that we can’t afford to increase wages of our public servants in line with inflation.

“Tony Abbott says we can’t afford for public servants’ wages to keep pace with increases in the cost of living. This would see cuts to their real wages in coming years,” said Mr Bandt.