More than 400,000 low‑paid workers in key industries will take home a bigger pay slip from today, thanks to a 4.6 per cent increase to minimum wages under their awards.
Industries in which workers are set to benefit include hospitality, tourism and aviation, with full‑time workers seeing a minimum $40 extra per week.
It will be the first pay cycle for many workers set to get a bump in pay after the change came into effect on 1 October.
Workers under 111 other awards received their pay rise in July.
Supporting a minimum wage increase was a promise the Albanese Government took to the election, and one of its key priorities on taking office.
Boosting workers’ pay is a critical step to tackling cost of living pressures, alongside cheaper child care and medicines.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“My Government is focused on tackling the spiralling cost of living that is making life tough for too many Australians.
“That's why we put forward a submission to the Fair Work Commission to increase the wages of people who are on the minimum wage and successfully argued for the result, which was a 5.2 per cent increase.
“We must get wages rising again and make health care, child care and housing more affordable, while we work to grow the economy.
“This Government will deliver a future where no one is held back and no one is left behind.”
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:
“We are working around the clock to get wages moving again.
“Wage suppression was a deliberate design feature of the former Government’s economic policy – that era is well and truly over.
“We’ll continue to fight for more secure jobs and better pay for workers. This month’s Budget will take forward initiatives from the Jobs and Skills Summit to build a bigger, better trained and more productive workforce, creating opportunities for more Australians.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke:
“This pay rise is higher than it otherwise would have been because ‑ for the first time in nearly a decade – the Federal Government actually argued in favour of a pay rise.
“Many low‑paid workers are young, female, in casual employment, and are far more likely to find themselves experiencing financial hardship.
“Many of these same workers were at the frontline of our pandemic response, keeping our supply chains moving and delivering essential services during the pandemic.
“Workers like these deserved this pay rise. And we’re going to keep fighting for them.”
Additional background
More than 2.7 million workers, covered by the combined July and October award increases, will receive a pay bump due to the Fair Work Commission decision.
Pay rise broken down by States/Territory:
| STATE | NO. OF WORKERS TO RECEIVE A PAY RISE |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 1,048,000 |
| Victoria | 546,100 |
| Queensland | 466,900 |
| South Australia | 227,200 |
| Western Australia | 234,200 |
| Tasmania | 75,900 |
| Northern Territory | 22,000 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 39,400 |