MINIMUM WAGE CASE

TONY BURKE MP.
Inbox.News digital newspaper topper logo
3 years ago
MINIMUM WAGE CASE
TONY BURKE MP
Labor welcomes the Fair Work Commission's decision to lift the minimum wage by $13 a week.
 
While this year's pay rise isn't as big as last year's it comes at a time of significant economic uncertainty and will help Australia's lowest-paid workers make ends meet. 
 
We particularly welcome the Commission's decision to reject some business groups' call for no pay rise. That would have been bad for workers, bad for the Australian economy and bad for business.
 
To lift Australia out of this recession we need people spending – and we know low-income people spend their pay rises. 
 
Austerity is not the answer. We need to stimulate domestic demand, particularly given our borders will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
 
Workers in some hard-hit industries will no doubt be disappointed that their pay rise will not be delivered on July 1, with the Commission announcing delays until November or February.
 
That's why it's critical the Morrison Government properly supports workers in hard-hit sectors like tourism, aviation, hospitality and the arts and entertainment, rather than persisting with its hard September snap-back.
Employment