House Division 1 · 31 Jul 2025

Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Increase flexibility

Negatived 42 aye · 89 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This amendment was introduced by Cook MP Simon Kennedy (Liberal).

Amendment text

That all words after "House" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

(1) notes the Government has failed to consult meaningfully with Australian small businesses on the impact of the Bill;

(2) condemns the Government for refusing to allow the Bill to be referred to a parliamentary committee for proper scrutiny and stakeholder input;

(3) expresses concern that:

(a) no Regulatory Impact Statement has been provided to assess how the Bill will affect small business employment and operating costs;

(b) the Government cannot say how many small businesses will be impacted by the proposed changes; and

(c) key industry stakeholders, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group, Australian Retailers Association and the Minerals Council of Australia, have warned the Bill will undermine flexibility, increase compliance complexity and reduce productivity; and

(4) calls on the Government to:

(a) immediately release a Regulatory Impact Statement;

(b) publish modelling of the Bill's economic and employment effects on small businesses;

(c) restore a clear consultation pathway for small business stakeholders; and

(d) amend the Bill to ensure the Fair Work Commission retains sufficient flexibility to approve award variations that enable higher pay and simpler conditions where supported by both employers and employees".

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

Second reading: The second reading vote decides whether the chamber agrees with the bill in principle. A second reading amendment attaches commentary or conditions to that agreement without changing the bill's text.

Related bills

Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	0	87
Liberal–National Coalition	37	0
Independent	4	2
Centre Alliance	1	0

Every vote

“Crossed” marks a vote against the majority of the member's own party in this division.

AYE (42)

NO (89)

Divisions this sitting day

Every division the House held that day, in order; the one on this page is marked.

Division 1 Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Increase flexibility Negatived House 42–89
Division 2 Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Penalty and overtime rates Negatived House 40–93
Division 3 Business — Consideration of Legislation Carried House 94–36