Are penalty rates "relevant"? - Abbott gov

Firstly, this is what he said the day before the Sept election:

Labor in government accused Tony Abbott of wanting to cut penalty rates if he became prime minister.

When challenged with the claim on the day before the election, Mr Abbott accused Labor of telling "bare-faced lies".

"They have no evidence for this because it's not true. It's not true," Mr Abbott said at the time.

"We leave the wage-fixing system exactly as it is and penalty rates will be a matter for the Fair Work Commission tomorrow as they are today." more

This is what his gov is saying now:

The Abbott Government has asked a major review of workplace awards to assess whether minimum terms and conditions, including penalty rates, are still relevant. 

The Government is also encouraging the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to take the cost of labour into account when reviewing the awards which set basic terms and conditions. 

It follows a warning by Employment Minister Eric Abetz that Australia risks a "wages explosion" if bosses do not start saying no to workers and unions requesting pay rises. more

Again, Abbott seems to think we're all dumb lemmings, or at least as dumb as he is. Does he really think workers are going to swallow this? If he wants to know how "relevant" penalty rates are, why doesn't he go talk to the people that earn them; you know those struggling family type people he kept going on about before the election. 

Many, without penalty rates, would see their wages drop significantly. For example, I worked ten years on afternoon shift at my old work. For working those hours (3pm-11pm) I was also getting a 20% shift loading as per the award. Those working night shift got a 30% loading. These were struggling workers living week to week. Try telling them that their 20-30% penalty rate isn't "relevant" to a modern award.  They'd be having a few "cost of living" pressures there, and it'd have nothing to do with a carbon tax.

Note to all. Join your union.