The Senate has voted 30-28 to pass the federal government’s $4 billion JobMaker bill without any amendments, after One Nation and Centre Alliance agreed to back the legislation. One Nation had previously indicated that it would support an amendment proposed by Labor that was designed to prevent employers from sacking existing staff and hiring younger workers in order to qualify for the subsidy. One Nation has rejected suggestions that it made a ‘side deal’ with the government:
Labor employment and industry spokesman Brendan O’Connor said the scheme “now exposes existing workers to dismissal or a reduction of hours”, calling the Senate vote “shameful conduct”. He said the government had made a “grubby deal” with One Nation.
“Not only is this grossly unfair, but it will fail to deliver net additional jobs that the government has promised,” he said. “The scheme is called JobMaker. Right now, it looks more like JobTaker”…
