The MP conducted a survey of 450 people in the Cunningham electorate on penalty rates and found 80 per cent were in favour of workers being paid more on weekends.

There were more than 10,000 retail and food and accommodation workers in the region, which are the sectors affected by a cut to Sunday penalties.

Ms Bird said the strong support was significant because 75 per cent of the respondents did not have anyone in their household who worked on a Sunday and would be affected by the looming cut in penalty rates.

“I think this comes down to fairness,” Ms Bird said.

“People are onto Malcolm Turnbull and his government giving $65 billion worth of tax cuts to big business, tax cuts to millionaires and just sitting back while workers lose their penalty rates.

“As we sit down to breakfast this weekend, millionaires will get a $16,400 tax cut while workers in retail, hospitality, fast food and pharmacy will cop a wage cut.”

MORE: Industry will pay penalty for Sunday rate cut

The cuts to Sunday rates will be between 25 and 50 per cent but will be phased in over several years.

According to the Australian Retailers Association director Russell Zimmerman, the rise in the minimum wage, which comes into force on Saturday, meant businesses will see little benefit from the cuts, 

“The four-stage transitional arrangement is a much slower approach to what the industry hoped for, and now with the high increase to minimum wage taking affect on July 1, retailers won’t be able to reap the benefits from the penalty rate cuts for a number of years,” Mr Zimmerman said.