Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

The last part of that question is manifestly false. That is not what I consider and not what I've ever said. It is a continuous misrepresentation by those opposite in respect of much more appropriate comments. We, of course, want to see stronger wages growth, but we also understand that stronger wages growth relies on stronger economic growth, stronger productivity growth—all things that we're working to achieve.

Let me say to the senator again: the economy is stronger, jobs growth is stronger, wages growth is stronger than it would have been if there had been a change of government. Indeed, her assertion that wages growth is the weakest ever is also false. Real wages growth is right on the 20-year average of 0.6 per cent. In fact, real wages growth is stronger than it was when Labor lost government. The minimum wage has had real increases in every year that we've been in government. People had real wages cuts— (Time expired)