Women and families will be hardest hit by the Governments proposed industrial relations changes, according to the Australian Democrats.
"Workers with family responsibilities need job security; predictable common family time; protection from excessive hours; and, flexibility," Democrats Work and Family Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who participated in todays yourrightsatwork protest in Sydney, said.
"Australia already lags behind other countries on several of these measures, including working hours and policies to assist employees juggle their work and family lives. WorkChoices will exacerbate this.
"Many parents, especially those on lower incomes, will lose precious family time under this legislation, including time for holidays together and time off to see the school play or sports day.
"A large number of submissions to the WorkChoices inquiry show that because women are in and out of the workforce for family reasons they generally have lower bargaining power.
"During the Court Governments period of labour deregulation in Western Australia, the gender wage gap increased and WA women fared worse than women nationally.
"The situation will be worse for single parents, the majority of whom are women, who will also be forced into the workforce with little bargaining power under the Governments welfare to work proposals.
"The Governments hypocrisy on work and family issues is astounding. The Government argues that Australia is too highly regulated in comparison to the UK yet, the UK has greater work and family protection than Australia.
"The UK has legislated for six months Government-funded paid maternity leave as well as the right to request flexible work hours. These measures have been embraced by business and have had a positive effect on productivity.
"The Governments workplace relations agenda will turn back the clock for many women and their families," Senator Stott Despoja said.
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