The Nowra resident has been working in the hospitality and security industry for more than 16 years. 

His wife also works in hospitality and the pair has previously worked on Boxing Day, their young daughter’s birthday. 

With the Fair Work Commission recently announcing that penalty rates will be reduced from July, Mr Lee said the new pay rate won’t be worth the loss. 

“We’ve both worked our daughter’s birthday every year since she was born for $50 an hour and she understands we have to,” he said. 

“We certainly won’t be now though, we’d much rather be at home with the family and enjoying ourselves.”

Under the changes full-time and part-time workers in retail will have their Sunday penalty rates dropped from 200 per cent to 150 per cent of their standard hourly rate, while casuals will go from 200 per cent to 175 per cent.

Hospitality employees will face a reduction in Sunday pay from 175 per cent to 150 per cent. Casual hospitality workers' pay will remain unchanged.

Fast-food employees' Sunday rates will go from 150 per cent to 125 per cent for full-time and part-time staff, and casuals will go from 200 per cent to 175 per cent.

Like many families, Mr Lee said their household often gets by week-to-week and the changes in penalty rates will affect them significantly. 

“We rely on that extra money over Christmas and New Year to pay our car registration so that’s going to hit us hard,” he said. 

“Most families will be missing out on about $6000 a year. The bank doesn’t reduce your mortgage payments though and food still costs the same.”

Mr Lee said while he understands the hospitality and retail industry isn’t a 9-5 gig, penalty rates have made the loss of weekends or time with family easier to bear. 

While more shops may be open on Sundays, he doesn’t believe the move will positively affect the region. 

“It won’t add jobs, you’re just asking people who already work these hours to work them for less,” he said. 

“It's not penalty rates and public holiday pay killing small local business. It's major corporations who control the market share, a butcher isn't going broke because of Sunday pay, it’s because people can get sausages for $8 for two kilos.

“That's what's killing off small business so to say the penalty rate cut saves local small business is crazy. It just increases bigger retailers profit margins.”

Mr Lee believes the people will be turned off permanent part-time contracts, opting for casual, often unstable positions instead. 

Along with his family and friends, Mr Lee won’t be visiting businesses on Sundays. 

They’ll be avoiding businesses that scrap penalty rates and encouraged everyone to support those who maintain penalty them. 

South Coast Labour Council (SCLC) representatives and Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey joined the debate this week, slamming Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis after saying penalty rates were “a gift” for young people.

“Everyone’s been receiving these gift packages from Ann Sudmalis, that is a $6000 a year pay cut, and we’re just saying they’ll be returned to sender,” he said. 

“Thanks, but no thanks, Ann. That’s not the kind of gift the people of the Shoalhaven, or anywhere, expect from their local member.”

Mr Lee said Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis’ comments reflect a different reality to what he’s living. 

“It shows how much her and her liberal party members have forgotten or don't care what it's like to be a working class family,” he said. 

“It’s no gift.”