ACTU: Public Supports Higher Minimum Wage

60% of Australians are concerned about the emergence of a “working poor” in this country, and support an increase in the minimum wage.

An even higher number – 71% – say a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, according to a new national survey.

And even though Australia’s minimum wage of $16.37 an hour or $622.20 a week is relatively high by international standards, a third of those surveyed say they could not afford to live off that amount.

The results are contained in a new national survey of 1035 people conducted by Essential Research for the ACTU.

As unions gear up for this year’s annual wage review, which will determine whether 1.5 million Award-dependent workers get a pay rise or not, the survey shows strong continuing support for Australia’s minimum wage despite a loud and organised employer campaign against it.

The ACTU has not yet settled on the amount it will claim in this year’s case. The application by the ACTU is due with the Fair Work Commission towards the end of this month.

Employers ready for tough fight
Last year, low-paid workers were awarded a little over half the extra $30 a week that had been sought by the ACTU.

Employer groups are already setting the scene for a tough fight in this year’s case, and there is much interest in what the Abbott Government will do.

In recent years, the previous Labor Government did not oppose the union movement’s claim, but did not nominate a number itself.

There is no guarantee the Coalition Government will do the same, as during the Howard Government it actively intervened in the wage review to back a lower amount than that claimed by the unions.

But whatever position the Government adopts, the new survey shows that there is strong community support for a higher minimum wage.

Only 15% of those surveyed disagreed with the statement: The Government should support a higher minimum wage to ensure all Australians have a decent standard of living.

Seventy-one per cent agreed that a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, while only 17% agreed with the central argument by employers, that Australia’s minimum wage is too high and is preventing business from hiring people.