Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm really pleased to hear that the previous speaker, the member for Casey, supports wage increases. It is a great shame though that those opposite didn't take that position when they were in government. I must say it's great to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate, and I thank the member for Spence for bringing this important issue to the attention of the House.

Since we came to government, minimum wage earners have had their wages increase by $7,451 following the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review decisions. This equates to a total increase of $143.30 every week. By increasing the minimum wage to $24.10 this year, Australia's lowest paid workers will earn an additional $1,721 per year, and that will make a great difference to some of the lowest paid workers in the country. The 3.75 per cent increase will directly and positively impact 2.6 million workers. We have consistently advocated for an increase to the minimum wage both before we were in government and since, unlike those opposite, who shamefully supported plans to suppress wages, and I think it's important that we don't forget that for one moment.

What we've seen here with the increase to the minimum wage is a real, definitive and absolute win for workers. Before the previous election, I remember standing with the now Prime Minister at a press conference when he was asked the question: did he support a wage increase for the lowest paid workers in the country? And he famously said, 'Absolutely.' He was criticised roundly by those opposite for making such a claim. I really do hope that they have had time in the last two-and-a-bit years to reflect on that shameful episode where they sought to see the lowest paid workers in this country, who helped get us through the very worst times in the pandemic, be set backwards. I really hope they have reflected on that dark chapter in their own history.

We know that this wage increase decision is a win for women, for workers and for families, and it will help with cost-of-living relief. The increase of $143 per week delivers on our commitment to Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. We want to see strong and sustainable wages growth across the country because we see this as part of the solution to the cost-of-living challenge and not part of the problem, unlike those opposite. We believe that one of the best ways to deal with cost-of-living pressures is to ensure that workers earn enough to provide for their loved ones and can get ahead to have that bit of extra money to spend in their local communities and keep local economies alive. We've gone into fight for Australian workers. We recommended to the Fair Work Commission that they ensure real wages increase for low-paid workers rather than go backwards. It was our advocacy in 2022 that helped secure a 5.2 per cent pay rise for workers on the minimum wage. Last year we backed that up by supporting a record 8.6 per cent increase, and saw earlier this month a 3.75 per cent increase.

Apart from these increases in wages, we've also delivered cost-of-living relief across a number of areas, including ensuring that there will be a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer in just a week's time. We've delivered cheaper medicines. We're delivering energy bill relief and cheaper child care. We're strengthening Medicare and we're increasing support payments. We do not think low wages should be part of any government strategy, in terms of our economic policy. We are proudly and unapologetically in favour of workers earning more and keeping more of what they earn. We've heard from members of the shadow frontbench already that if low-paid workers got real wages growth it would be the worst thing for Australia. That is a shameful comment to make, and I do hope that those opposite reflect on the harm that statements like that can do.

In the two years since we've come to government, we've seen increases to the minimum wage. We're relieving cost-of-living pressures on families. We want people to earn more and keep more of what they earn, and we will not apologise for that.

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