AI data centre boom could drive up electricity prices, climate advocates warn; Unions, government back minimum wage increase as business groups warn of high costs
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus said the 4.75 per cent increase in bonuses and minimum wages would not negatively impact businesses.
“Again, every year we hear from people saying this is going to be terrible and everyone is going to close their doors, but they don’t,” he said. Today show this morning.
“When you give pay raises to people at the bottom, it goes back into the economy… Their wages in general are not very high, so when they get a raise it doesn’t have any impact on anyone else.”
The Fair Work Commission’s latest increase will see Australia’s minimum wage rise to $26.44 per hour from July 1.
McManus also said unions welcomed the result, which would ease pressure on the country’s lowest-paid workers, who are already struggling with the high cost of living.
“We’re happy, 4.75 is more than inflation and you’re always after that because you want people to get ahead, not get left behind… We still don’t know what’s going to happen with inflation, war and other things,” he said.
