Warren Entsch says he is not concerned that the penalty rates issue could cost him his seat. Credit:Andrew Meares The union movement has claimed up to 700,000 workers will lose up to $77 per week in wages, whereas the government claims about 285,000 people will be affected. The government has attempted to fight back by highlighting Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's previous pledge to support the decision of the independent commission - since reversed - and deals signed while he was national secretary of the Australian Workers Union that traded away penalty rates. ReachTEL polling commissioned by the Australian Council of Trade Unions conducted on February 27-28 in five Coalition-held seats – Page in New South Wales; Dawson, Leichhardt and Brisbane in Queensland and Corangamite in Victoria – found Page, Dawson and Corangamite could fall to Labor as a result of the decision. All of the seats recorded swings against the government.

But Mr Entsch, who has long argued for penalty rates to be cut to support business, lashed the Opposition Leader. "Shorten would have you believe penalty rates are gone, slashed, but nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "It doesn't concern me I could lose my seat. It's about time we did what was in the best interests of the country," he said. "What needs to happen and hasn't happened is the facts haven't been explained so the ordinary person can understand it. There are a lot of benefits out of this . . . I think it will create jobs and it will provide opportunities for business." Mr Christensen suggested Liberal Senator Eric Abetz's call to "grandfather" the decision, so workers would not see their current rates reduced - but new employees would be paid the lower rate - would "go some way to fixing the problem". He also suggested the reduced rates also be applied only to small business.

"My view there is no way we can convince the voting public that taking money away from workers is a good thing. "There is no doubt it could cost me my seat, I completely recognise it's unpopular . . . this is something that will drag on to election day and we need it like a hole in the head." The Prime Minister again defended the decision on Friday, arguing it would create more work, opportunity and jobs in the community. "Of course, there is the means to transition changes so that take-home pay is not affected. Again, that is set out in some detail in the report," he added, referring to the government's plan to recommend to the commission the reduced rate is phased in over a number of years. Coalition MP Trevor Evans, the former chief executive of the National Retail Association, who now holds Brisbane and who called in his maiden speech for changes to penalty rates, did not respond to requests for comment.

Nor did Liberal MP Sarah Henderson and Nationals MP Kevin Hogan, who hold Corangamite and Page. Loading Follow James Massola on Facebook Follow us on Facebook