Who is it that fights for increases in our basic
wage? Think about it.
Foxy,
The very same people who then take it all back again via higher charges !

Hi Foxy,

Why I say this is a winner for Labor, is not because they should be directing policy of 'personal economic concerns' at the lowest paid, people who in the majority vote Labor anyway. Rather Labor will target middle Australia, the battlers on $90k/year with the message "you are economically missing out, and its all the fault of this government", The other winner for Labor is the environmental issue which is very high on the agenda of concerns for middle Australia. The boarder security issues which is the Coalitions Trump card is slipping down the list. The first two issues are here and now, whilst boarder security is a yesterday issue. Of course the lack of unity from the Coalition parties is not helping them.
If the Coalitions wants to lose the election (which they will anyway) just tell middle Australia the Mexicans get $5/hour so think yourself lucky, it would go down like a lead balloon!

Ok, the minimum wage goes up by $10/week for argument's sake. That then triggers a $ 50 rise for public servants & a $5000 rise for senior bureaucrats & politicians.
A classic scenario of the dog chasing its tail.
Were Govt salaries frozen for a minimum of three Govt terms, the boost to the local economy would be that costs would not rise but the standard of living would. the lower wage earners need an increased spending power, the high salary earners don't, they have it already.
We need to invigorate spending in the lower wage demographic. The economy will improve along with social issues & it will reduce crime & subsequent costs to society.
Keeping on asking for higher wages is economic mismanagement.

There's some hype about getting equal pay for women right now.
I'm all for it, bring all the male public servant's salaries down to that of the women. Problem solved !

Dear Paul,

As far as I can see the Libs will lose this upcoming
election. The mess that they're currently in - trying
to present a united front is not working - what with
the Turnbull interview on the BBC, then so many leaving
Parliament. Then there's the Julia Banks interview
coming up on Sunday with "60 Minutes." Things are
spiralling downward. They need a miracle. People are not
longer taking them seriously.

The high minimum wage in Australia is one of the main reasons kids are not getting jobs. The ones who are getting jobs are those offering to work for NOTHING during a trial period.

Wages are just like any other cost to business; if an employer pays $17 and hour, he has to get at the very least the equivalent of what the employee is costing him. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t need that employee, which is why so many small business proprietors - the biggest employers – are not hiring, but doing it themselves or with family.

Add all HR regulations, insurance etc, and inexperienced fresh from school kids have priced themselves out of the market. All of you who approve of mass immigration should think about that as well. There are people who will work for less, who don’t care about our labour laws, and will take cash and pay no tax. Everyone used to our rule of law values and fair go misses out. And it’s only just starting.