Opposition deputy leader Sussan Ley has demanded Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt apologise over the economic conditions which led Woolworths workers to strike this week.
Shoppers have been warned about bare shelves this Christmas as workers at the supermarket giant’s Logistics distribution centres strike over increased pay demands.
Woolworths has said it doesn’t expect any “immediate” impact on stock levels after up to 1500 unionised workers at three of its distribution centres in Victoria and another in NSW walked off the job indefinitely on Thursday.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
The workers want better pay amid the cost-of-living crisis and an end to a performance framework which the United Workers Union says pushes them to work faster in ways that risk safety.
With Christmas little more than a month away, the union has warned the liquor, frozen and refrigerated goods shelves at Woolworths could run bare unless its conditions are met.
Watt and Ley both joined Sunrise host Nat Barr and Watt for Hot Topics on Friday, when Ley demanded an apology from Watt over the Albanese government’s economic mismanagement.
“First I want to say to the union organisers, I think there is a better way to make your point than making families feel anxious about their grocery shopping at Christmas,” Ley said.
“But secondly to the workers, I understand — you’re going through a cost-of-living crisis under this Labor government.
“You are, Woolies workers are, all Australians are, and this is because we see such poor economic management.
“We were promised mortgages would go down, your cost of living would get better … life would be cheaper under Anthony Albanese.
“I would just like Murray to apologise to these workers this morning because he is part of that government.”
Watt returned fire, taking aim at the Coalition for voting against “every … measure” the government has introduced, including tax cuts and energy bill relief, to try to ease cost-of-living pressures.
“I think if anyone has to apologise it is probably Sussan and the Liberal Party … they have opposed our tax cuts for middle income earners, opposed the energy bill relief, opposed cheaper childcare,” he said.
“(Now) wages are finally beginning to grow in this country because of the changes our government has made.
“We recognise that Australians are doing it really tough at the moment, whether it be Woolies workers or other people. That’s why we have (been doing) so much work at supporting people through cost-of-living relief.”
Watt talked down the possible impact of the strikes.
“Obviously there is a little while to go yet — it isn’t unusual to have these kind of disputes when it comes to wage negotiations,” he said.
“I’ve seen the reports from Woolworths saying they have got lots of contingency plans in place to make sure that supplies will be available.
“I would encourage obviously the parties to keep tracking, try to work it out.
“It is in the interests of workers at Woolworths to come to agreement about the wages, and it is in the interest of Woolworths to make sure operations keep going.”
—With AAP