Address to the House of Representatives, Statements by Members

Wednesday 3 June 2026

This week we have seen a win for three million Australian workers, a win for workers at the core of our communities. The Fair Work Commission has lifted the minimum wage by 4.75 per cent, which means that the minimum wage is now over $1,000 per week. This is real, meaningful change for the lowest paid workers in our communities and their families.

On this side of the House, we fought for this fairness. We fought for our community, for our retail workers, our receptionists and our care workers. But what about those on the opposite side of the House? They deliberately suppressed wages for a decade. They consistently refused to back minimum-wage cases and they refused to support fairer tax cuts for all working Australians. Australians saw through it last year, and they continue to see through it. With lower taxes and higher wages, we're backing workers and their families in the fight against the cost of living. We will always back our communities to earn more and keep more of what they earn.