Minimum wage will be lifted to 5.7% effective from July
The fair work commission has announced a 5.75 per cent increase in award and minimum wages. There's also a one-off increase in the base level of minimum wages which will see Australia’s lowest paid workers receive an 8.6 per cent rise in their pay rates from July the first. Fewer than 1% of workers are paid the minimum wage rate while around 20% will get the 5.75 per cent increase. Unions had called for the increase to be in line with inflation around 7 per cent, while businesses have pushed for a 3.5 per cent increase arguing anything higher would leave small businesses struggling.