Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon, for your question. You are absolutely right that the Albanese government has a strong track record on supporting low-paid Australians. Our government has gone in to bat for workers not once, not twice but three times, putting more money in family pockets. Unlike Mr Dutton, Senator Cash and the coalition, who think that paying workers fairly would mean a return to the Dark Ages, we see strong and sustainable wages growth as a part of the solution to the cost-of-living challenge and not a part of the problem.

I'm pleased to say that new data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows annual real wages continue to grow under the Albanese Labor government. The Wage Price Index rose 0.8 per cent in the June quarter to be 4.1 per cent higher through the year. Annual real wages also grew 0.3 per cent in the year to the June quarter 2024, meaning wages continue to grow above inflation. Under the Albanese government, annual real wages have been growing now for three consecutive quarters.

How does that compare to the coalition government? Under the last government, annual real wages were going backwards by 3.4 per cent. Under those opposite, annual real wages were going backwards; under the Albanese Labor government, they are going forwards. That is a vital part of dealing with cost-of-living challenges, and, if you had your way, people would be having their wages cut as well as having their tax cuts taken off them as well as having their energy bill relief taken off them and every other cost-of-living pressure laid on top of them. It's only because of the actions of the Albanese Labor government that we are getting wages moving again, and that is helping Australians deal with cost-of-living pressures.

This return to sustainable wages growth under a Labor government is welcome, but we know that people are still under pressure. That's why we're focused on tackling inflation and delivering responsible cost-of-living relief, including our tax cuts for every taxpayer which have been rolling out since 1 July.