Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to advocating for a pay rise above inflation for Australia’s lowest-paid workers if re-elected in next month’s federal election.
Campaigning in Victoria this morning, Albanese visited an early learning center in Melbourne and called for an increase in minimum and award wages. He stated, “We want the Australian people to vote for higher wages and lower taxes, not the Coalition’s plan of lower wages and higher taxes.”
Albanese highlighted early childhood educators and aged-care workers as examples of those benefiting from the government’s wage increases, mentioning a 28% wage rise for aged-care workers and a legislated 15% wage increase for early educators.
He stressed the importance of lifting wages in undervalued, feminized industries to ensure a sufficient workforce to care for vulnerable people.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, also campaigning in Victoria, stated that the Coalition supports wage increases while emphasizing the need for business investment. He argued that real wages have declined under Albanese’s government and that families have struggled economically.
