Christian political parties appear to be divided in their response to the industrial relations debate, raging in the lead-up to the Federal election.
Family First has launched their own workplace plan arguing that neither the Federal Government, nor the Labor Party, has produced legislation that is fair to workers and businesses.
"Labor's plan to turn back the clock is anti-business, particularly anti-small business. Its plan to rip up the workplace laws is reckless and will cause confusion and chaos. It could also threaten jobs," says Family First Senator for Victoria, Steve Fielding
"Meanwhile the Government stubbornly refuses to admit there are problems and insists everything is okay."
Family First believes a fair workplace legislation policy needs fair provisions for workers, including guaranteed meal breaks, paid overtime, penalty rates, compensation for working public holidays and guaranteed redundancy entitlements.
Work Choices is not delivering these entitlements fairly, according to Mr Fielding.
"Under Work Choices, workers are not guaranteed being paid at a higher rate for working anti-family hours, so working at 2am is the same as working at 2pm."
Anzac Day has brought the issue of workers' rights on public holidays to the fore in the past week.
"Under Work Choices, public holidays like Anzac Day are no longer guaranteed, " says Mr Fielding. "And those who do work on public holidays are not guaranteed one cent extra."
"Public holidays are important family and community days and ANZAC Day is a day when Australians should be allowed to honour our fallen heroes."
Fred Nile backs PM
On the contrary, the Hon Fred Nile, national president of the Christian Democratic Party says the Federal Government's Work Choices legislation provides a more workable framework for Australian workers and employers.
"I believe the majority of people are better off under Work Choices," says Mr Nile.
"John Howard as the Prime Minister has the right to introduce new policies and it's up to the electorate, if they feel they're being discriminated against or it's unfair, to vote him out."
He says over a million people who earn higher wages under Australian Workplace Agreements will be disadvantaged under Labor's proposed IR laws.
"Kevin Rudd's proposals are not very clear, and he's modifying them now because of criticism," says Mr Nile.
Work Choices harms families
But the Australian Christian Lobby's managing director, Jim Wallace, says his concerns over the impact of Work Choices on family time have been partially eased by Labor's policies.
"Christians can logically take a position on either side of the current industrial relations debate but our particular concern has focussed on the need to preserve family time," says Mr Wallace.
"In that respect the Labor proposal to reinstate penalty rates and overtime will be welcomed by many Christians, but there will be differing points of view about the wider industrial relations positions of the different political parties."
