Its about time government got onto small business and recovered a small portion of the tax these crooks are ripping off this nation. The plumber who rips off with "the job will cost ya $1000, but I'll do it for $950 cash," no GST, no company tax. Then there the motor mechanic "The job cost ya $500, I'll print ya out a quote, just use that for ya receipt. by the way I only take cash no card" The TV turkey fix the box "That's $300 ya owe me, cash mate," do I get a receipt "Na left me receipt book back at work, I'll drop it around tomorrow." Ya right he will. Got a small shop selling sandwiches, I add the GST of course but do I declare it, no all these sandwiches were sold as loaves of bread, no GST." Mum 'works' in the business as an employee but she a phantom never seen in the place. the young bloke need a new PC for home I'll get him one through the business. The store with not paper in the register, the barber who cuts 50 heads a day by only declares 30.
The big rip off in this country is not workers, not welfare recipients, bui business, its a multi billion dollar rip off. Why do you think they were so keen on the GST, another avenue to rip Australia off.

Then there are those who have a big tizzy fit when low paid workers get an insulting $17 a week. "These nasty workers are ruining the country". The same people say nothing when some grubby CEO of a public company gets his board mates to vote him a 40% increase to $10,000,000 a year. The very same turkey helped reduce the bottom line by 50%, no thought for the share holders.

Paul, you are absolutely 100% correct.

The biggest rip off merchants in this country are businesses, both small and large. Many of them get all sorts of tax breaks, many can afford to legally manipulate the system, and the illegal cash economy has always been MASSIVE.

People, don't blame and begrudge the lowest paid workers a modest increase. Go for the "real" bludgers instead .... businesses. But you won't I'm sure, because that doesn't conform to your ideological outlook.

My friend and his employer. I have a friend, I'll call him Clark, not his real name, who works in a medium sized retail store, a small business, with 6 employees, the boss owns 3 stores altogether, part of a chain franchise set up. they advertise on TV so not a small group. Clark is paid $17/hour.
There is no union. The boss does the roster every week not every 2 weeks as required by the award. As the staff turnover is high, Clark is mostly rostered on 6 days a week. Is Clark paid overtime for day 6, no, is Clark paid loading for Sundays, as per the award, no. His employer can't afford it, according to him. This is the same bloke who just leased a new BMW and had 3 weeks family hols o/s. At first when Clark was rostered on 6 days and said something the boss came back with "I'll give you an extra day off during the week to make up for it." never happened. The boss likes to have weekly team meetings after the shop is closed. Naturally these 1 hour meeting are unpaid. Clark has been rung at home when off, and told there is a team meeting at 5.30, you must be there. these team meeting are generally announced on the day, pity if you have something to do, the meeting have to fit in with the boss, According to Clark the meetings are noting more than a winge by the boss "business is not good, (remember the BMW and holiday) and people have to up sell and work harder." At a recent meeting the boss had a new one "Everyone has to be in 15 minutes early everyday to get the shop ready." again unpaid.
con't

con't
I said to Clark Why don't you join the union and stick it up this bloke. "I'm scared anyone talks union and they are out the door. I have to pay nearly $300 a week just in rent." The other thing my mate said was the mark ups you would not believe. Something bought wholesale for less than $2, on the shelf for $19.95 and people pay it. Nothing has less than 100% mark up often 500%. This guy makes the best welfare cheat look like a rank amateur.

About a year ago, workers on the minimum wage were granted a weekly pay increase of $26. When they asked for the same again this year, they only got $17.

My belief is that Carbon Tax Compensation has been subtracted from the poorest workers' wages.

I guess this fits in with the plan to also hammer welfare recipients into the dust.