Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I'm very grateful to the member for Holt for her question. She has spent her entire working life championing the cause of the low paid in this country, and I acknowledge that work. We welcome the decision of the Fair Work Commission to increase minimum wages by 3.75 per cent. This is the real wage increase that low-paid workers need and deserve. This is a win for 2.6 million workers and their loved ones. This means workers on the minimum wage get an extra $33.10 a week and $1,721 more per year. This means more money in the pockets of our lowest paid workers and more help with the cost of living.

Under this Prime Minister and his government, the minimum wage has now increased by $143 a week and $7,452 a year. This is on top of the bigger $870 tax cut that will flow from next month as well. Those opposite wanted no tax cut for those workers. They wanted lower wages for these workers. They want Australians to work longer for less—

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