Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It truly beggars belief that of all people in this place it is the opposition bringing this matter of public importance to the parliament today, because the issue of low wages growth is one that has been persistent in our economy for many, many years. Low wages growth isn't a problem that started at the date of the last federal election. It isn't a problem that started last week. It is a problem that was manufactured by the Liberal Party of Australia during their nine years of government. We know this because low wages were a deliberate design feature of their economic plan.

From 2013 to 2022, under the former Liberal government, wages remained largely stagnant, barely keeping pace with the rising cost of living. Between 2013 and 2022, the annual wage growth rate averaged a mere 2.3 per cent, which barely kept up with inflation, effectively resulting in zero real wage growth. In practical terms, this meant that the average Australian worker's wage barely kept pace with the rising cost of goods and services. In fact, when accounting for inflation, the real wage growth effectively amounted to zero. The stagnation of wages under the previous government inflicted a heavy toll on everyday Australians, leaving them to grapple with the harsh reality of their eroding purchasing power. The deliberate design of the Liberals' economic plan meant that it was harder for Australian families to make ends meet. It was hard for Australians to pay their bills and harder for Australians to provide for their families. None of this is opinion or editorial. We've got the receipts. This is what former finance minister Mathias Cormann revealed in March 2019 when he said that low wages were 'a deliberate design feature of our economic architecture'.

Thankfully, we now have a government that cares deeply about ensuring Australians' wages are moving in the right direction. Labor was elected on a promise to get wages moving, and that's exactly what we've started to do. It is this government, after nearly a decade of those opposite, that genuinely recognises how hard Australians work, from the cleaners who clean our hospitals to the tech workers who drive innovation and the care industry workers looking after our most vulnerable. Our commitment to them at the last election and today is to get wages moving for them. I know that all on this side of the House will continue to work to help our lowest paid workers get the pay rise that those opposite never helped deliver.

As a result of our government's actions, we are seeing annual wage growth rates that have not been this high since 2012. In the June 2023 quarter, wages rose, marking the first time in 11 consecutive quarters where real wages didn't go backward. Earnings for the average full-time worker increased by 3.9 per cent in the first year of our government. That's about $3,700 going straight back into Australian workers' pockets. Not only has our government supported the national minimum wage rises—it has increased by 8.6 per cent, which just so happens to be the largest increase on record—we have also secured and funded a long overdue 15 per cent increase for aged-care workers, benefiting 250,000 people across Australia.

It tells you everything that you need to know about the modern Liberal Party that they have the gall to bring this matter of public importance to this place while they vote against genuine cost-of-living relief and wage growth measures. Again and again they voted against supporting wage growth in this parliament and supporting cost-of-living relief. When the Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining the minimum wage rise last year, what did those opposite say to making a submission to support wages going up? They said no. When the Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining the minimum wage rise this year, what did those opposite say to making a submission to support wages going up? They said no. When it came to passing the secure jobs legislation to improve access to bargaining for our lowest paid and most feminised sectors, also expanding flexible working arrangements for working families, what did those opposite say? They said no. And when it comes to debating and passing the legislation now before the House to close employment loopholes, ensuring minimum wage rates for our gig economy workers, we know what they'll say. They will say no again. I would encourage the Liberal Party to get on board and support the government's efforts to get wages moving and reduce cost-of-living pressures. I would encourage them to also acknowledge the impact their terrible policies had on our wages and our economy.

See this speech in context