REAL WAGES KEEP FALLING AS COSTS OF LIVING SKYROCKET

RICHARD MARLES MP
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION, EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS AND SMALL BUSINESS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCIENCE
MEMBER FOR CORIO

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 
JIM CHALMERS MP
SHADOW TREASURER
MEMBER FOR RANKIN
 
 
Today’s new ABS data shows real wages are still going backwards even as the economy recovers.

This confirms again that Scott Morrison is the Prime Minister for higher prices, lower real wages and working families going backwards.

White the costs of living (CPI) rose by 3.5 per cent over the past year, wages lagged behind on 2.3 per cent, so real wages have continued to fall by 1.2 per cent.

Wage growth has been lower every year under this Coalition Government and real wage growth under the Coalition has been almost a third of what it was under the last Labor government.

Australians are increasingly worried about their paypackets and the recovery because the costs of essentials like petrol, rent and child care are skyrocketing while their real wages keep falling.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer’s self-congratulation over the recovery rings hollow when working families in real communities are falling behind.

The Government’s own Budget reveals real wages will keep going backwards over the course of this year.

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have lots of scare campaigns but they’re completely bereft of any real plan to get wages moving.

Wages growth has been at or near record lows for much of the Liberals’ decade in office.

Australians can’t risk or afford another three years of deliberate attacks on job security, penalty rates and take home pay.

Two years of Scott Morrison’s blunders have left workers and businesses paying the price for his failures with vaccines, quarantine, economic support and rapid tests.

This won’t be a recovery that works for everyone if Australians are working hard and still can’t get ahead.

WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2022