Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have clashed on wage rises amid national concern over cost of living.
In likely the final leaders debate before the election, hosted by 7 News, both leaders said they support wage increases – but differed in their approach.
Mr Morrison was against wages rising too steeply and said he would inform the Fair Work Commission that small businesses are doing it tough.
“They’re the ones who employ people and we want to ensure that they can keep employing people. And by having a sensible approach to wages policy they can employ people and pay them better wages,” he said.
Mr Albanese said if the increase is less than inflation it would mean a real wage cut for workers.
“What we’re talking about here is people on minimum wages. It’s $20.33 an hour. What we are talking about here, if the Fair Work Commission grant a five per cent increase, that’s two cups of coffee a day,” he said.
“And the idea that two cups of coffee a day is something that would damage the economy is, I believe, just not the case.”
Mr Morrison shot back: “If Mr Albanese thinks small businesses around the country can have a five per cent increase in their wages bill on top of all the other things they’re facing … people won’t be worrying about what their wages are, they will be worrying about whether they have a job.”
Mr Morrison pushed the importance of a strong economy but blamed “global forces” for interest rates and cost of living.
“A strong economy provides that economic shield for jobs, for incomes, for the businesses you run, to keep taxes low and to put downward pressure on the global forces that are pushing up interest rates and cost of living,” Mr Morrison said.
Mr Albanese said good government can change people’s lives for the better listing Labor’s key election promises on cost of living, childcare, health care, climate change and others as evidence of change.
“Australians have conflict fatigue. They want solutions, not arguments, and that’s what I want to deliver … a better future, one where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind,” he said.
