Pay rise on the way for millions of Aussies – what you need to know

By ANTOINETTE MILIENOS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 20:33 BST, 1 April 2025 | Updated: 20:45 BST, 1 April 2025

Anthony Albanese’s government is set to announce its support a pay rise for three million low paid workers including retail staff, early childhood educators and cleaners.

Labor will make the submission to the Fair Work Commission – Australia’s independent tribunal responsible for setting award rates and minimum wage – on Wednesday. 

The submission urges the independent body to provide ‘an economically sustainable real wage increase’ for Australian workers on award and low income wages. 

The policy does not stipulate a set dollar or per cent increase but is advocating for the Commission to change its current structure on pay increases. 

The current submission is advocating for an increase on real wages – those adjusted for inflation and at the same rate as the cost of living – contrary to Labor’s previous submissions which pushed for real wages not to go backwards.

Labor will argue that the party’s economic plan will prevent the pay rises from being inflationary despite any increases being consistent with inflation. 

‘Inflation has come down substantially and is on track to return sustainably to the RBA’s target band this year,’ Labor writes in its submission to the Fair Work Commission. 

‘An increase in minimum and award wages should be consistent with this… Labor submits that this outcome is both fair and economically responsible.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor party will make a submission to the Fair Work Commission for an increase to award rates and minimum wages on Wednesday 

‘Labor believes workers should get ahead with a real wage increase. Despite heightened global uncertainty and volatility, the Australian economy has turned a corner.

‘Inflation is now less than one third of its peak, unemployment remains low, there are over a million additional people employed than in May 2022, and interest rates have started to come down. 

‘Economic growth rebounded at the end of last year and the private sector is now a key contributor to growth. Importantly, real wages growth has now returned and is forecast to continue across 2024-25 and 2025-26.

‘A soft landing in our economy looks more and more likely. While the global economy is uncertain and Australians are still under pressure, Labor has made substantial progress in turning the economy around.’ 

More to come… 

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Pay rise on the way for millions of Aussies – what you need to know

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