He was supposed to be the human face of the thousands of weekend workers affected by the cut in Sunday penalty rates.
"My name is Trent Hunter. I am a retail worker," the young man standing beside Bill Shorten told media at the Opposition Leader's Sydney press conference on Thursday afternoon.
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Labor's PR own goal
Coles worker Trent Hunter gave heartfelt remarks at Labor's press conference about how changes to penalty rates would hurt his bottom line. The only problem: he won't be impacted. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)
"I rely on Sunday penalty rates. I am rostered on every single Sunday. I will now lose $109 a week."
Except he won't lose a cent, according to his employer.
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Mr Hunter, who is a "shoppies union" delegate and an ALP campaign volunteer, works for Coles in western Sydney.
The supermarket chain confirmed to Fairfax Media that none of its staff would be affected by the decision of the Fair Work Commission.
The pay of Coles staff is dictated by an enterprise bargaining agreement rather than the retail award reviewed by the commission.
"No Coles store team members will see any change in their pay, even if they work Sundays. Members are employed subject to an EBA," said a Coles spokesman.
The Coles EBA has been mired in controversy because, under a deal with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association, some weekend workers were left worse off than had they remained on the award.
In echoes of the "Fake tradie" furore that hit the Coalition during the election, Mr Shorten introduced Mr Hunter as one of the "people who are directly affected in the hip pocket by this absolutely appalling decision" to cut Sunday rates.
He did not mention, or perhaps recall, that he had been pictured during the election campaign with Mr Hunter who was then a campaign volunteer for Labor's Emma Husar, who won the Penrith-based seat of Lindsay back from the Liberal Party.
On social media, Mr Hunter has referred to Ms Husar as his "greatest friend" and travelled to Canberra for her inaugural speech.
According to his Facebook page, Mr Hunter in November received the "Young Achiever Award" from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association, known as the shoppies.
"I urge all workers to join the union," he posted.
During Mr Shorten's press conference, he said the Fair Work Commission's decision was a "disgrace".
"I rely on the penalty rates to make ends meet and to pay for my fuel, my rent and to pay for my food," he said.
"I am gutted. It is such a disgrace. I do not accept the decision as a retail worker. I urge all workers today, because it is a dark day for retail workers and hospitality workers, to stand up and fight back.
"I urge all workers to stand up, join your union and fight back so we can win back our penalty rates."
Fairfax Media has contacted Mr Hunter for comment and also contacted Ms Husar.
A spokesman for Mr Shorten said: "Hundreds of thousands of workers will be worse off because of cuts to penalty rates - that's a fact."
A Labor source said Mr Hunter believed Thursday's decision was going to be bad for him "either immediately or in the long term".
Shadow employment minister Brendan O'Connor later conceded on ABC radio: "Trent did get a little carried away, he was shocked by the decision."
But Mr O'Connor and the SDA indicated the 2011 Coles enterprise agreement was being reviewed by Fair Work and, if terminated, Mr Hunter would stand to lose his penalty rates under any new agreement based on the award.