$8.40 Isn’t Good Enough, Mr Abbott

Date: 26 February 2003

1.7 million low paid Australians have good cause to feel insulted by the Howard Government's latest attempt to limit them to a miserable pay rise of just $8.40 a week after tax.

The government offer is in response to the ACTU's claim for a $24.60 per week increase in the minimum wage, which will come before the Industrial Relations Commission next month.

"Tony Abbott is out of touch: $8.40 doesn't even cover the cost of bread and milk for a modern, average family," said ACTU Secretary Greg Combet.

The Workplace Relations Minister revealed today he will be mounting the old, discredited argument that a meaningful pay rise for low paid workers will cost them their jobs.

"The most up-to-date economic modelling shows that moderate rises, such as sought by the ACTU, have a negligible effect on the economy. In fact the latest research indicates a modest increase can stimulate job growth," said Mr Combet.

"Tony Abbott is trying to make life harder for shop assistants, childcare workers, hotel cleaners and a range of other Australian workers, using data that is completely out-of-date."

"In 2002, after the ACTU won an $18 increase, the government and employers said the sky would fall in. Instead, unemployment fell and job growth remained strong," said Mr Combet.

"While the government spends all its energy trying to prevent a decent increase for low paid workers, it stands idly by while its corporate friends indulge themselves with obscene pay rises and pay outs.

"How can Tony Abbott honestly tell 1.7 million workers $8.40 is all they're worth?"

All of the State and Territory Governments are supporting a minimum increase of $18 per week again this year.

For further information

Contact:	Giulia Baggio
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	03 96635655
Contact Mobile:	0414 641 635
Fax:	03 9663 8220
Email:	gbaggio@actu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

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