What is your party’s position on increasing the minimum wage and increasing the award wage?
Decisions about the minimum wage and award wage are made by the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), and take into account evidence, submissions from stakeholders, the views of experts and specific industry considerations. The Government has no plans to change this approach.
The best way to ensure sustainable long-term increases in wages is with a strong economy. Minimum wage increases have met or exceeded inflation in every year since we were elected. Under Labor, real minimum wages were cut in three out of their six years in government.
The Greens will legislate to set the minimum wage at 60% of the median wage, enshrining in law a minimum wage that is not below the poverty line. People reliant on awards also deserve a pay increase.
We do not propose altering the existing settings on minimum and award wages.
A Shorten Labor Government will legislate so that the Fair Work Commission’s highest priority will be making sure no person working full-time in Australia need live in poverty.
A living wage should make sure people earn enough to make ends meet. It should be informed by what it costs to live in Australia today – to pay for housing, for food, for utilities, to pay for a basic phone and data plan.
Labor’s plan will make sure that over time workers are paid a living wage, taking into account the capacity of businesses to pay, and the potential effect on employment, inflation and the broader economy.
