The prime minister has committed to advocating for Australia’s lowest-paid workers to get a pay rise if re-elected at next month’s federal election.
Both Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton campaigned in Victoria this morning.
The prime minister visited an early learning centre in Melbourne, arguing for an increase in the minimum and award wages that goes above inflation.
“We want the Australian people to vote for higher wages and lower taxes, not the Coaltiion’s plan of lower wages and higher taxes,” Albanese said.
“It’s a pretty simple choice Australians face.”
He singled out early childhood educators and aged-care workers, as workers who have benefited from the government’s efforts to boost wages for lower-paid workers.
“Along with aged care workers who’ve received around a 28 per cent wage increase, we’ve legislated for a 15 per cent wage increase for early educators,” he said.
“We know both of those sectors, simply weren’t being paid enough.
“Those feminised industries were undervalued. Unless we lifted wages, we wouldn’t have a workforce to look after these people,” he said.
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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Coalition also supports wage increases, while simultaneously trying to encourage investment in businesses.
“We support wage increases, of course we do,” he said.
“Families have gone backwards under this government.
“The Prime Minister Mr Albanese can talk up about putting up wages – real wages have gone down under this government.”
