❓ The Minister outlines the WA Government's submission to the 2004 national minimum wage case, advocating for a $20 per week increase and highlighting past wage increases under the Labor government, while also criticising the previous Liberal government's economic performance.
AnsweredQoN 14Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister inform the House on the Western Australian Government’s presentation to the 2004 national minimum wage case? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I know he has a real interest in making sure that there are fair and decent wages for the low-paid workers in this State - a situation that was not the case when Labor came to government. The national wage case comes up each year, and the State has taken a different view at different times. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I know he has a real interest in making sure that there are fair and decent wages for the low-paid workers in this State - a situation that was not the case when Labor came to government. The national wage case comes up each year, and the State has taken a different view at different times. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
I thank the member for the question. I know he has a real interest in making sure that there are fair and decent wages for the low-paid workers in this State - a situation that was not the case when Labor came to government. The national wage case comes up each year, and the State has taken a different view at different times. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I know he has a real interest in making sure that there are fair and decent wages for the low-paid workers in this State - a situation that was not the case when Labor came to government. The national wage case comes up each year, and the State has taken a different view at different times. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
I thank the member for the question. I know he has a real interest in making sure that there are fair and decent wages for the low-paid workers in this State - a situation that was not the case when Labor came to government. The national wage case comes up each year, and the State has taken a different view at different times. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: What are you doing for the low-skilled people whose unemployment rate is going up? The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kingsley! Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: This Government’s case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the 2004 national wage case will be to suggest that the minimum - Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kingsley to order for the third time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Government will suggest that the minimum wage be increased by $20 a week. That $20 is not conditional on a range of matters, which is the approach that has been taken in the past. We will say that we believe the economy can afford $20 a week and that the low-paid workers deserve $20 a week. We will put that argument to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission jointly with the other Labor States. We believe that that would be a fair increase. That will flow on in addition to the fact that in the first two and a half years that the Gallop Government has been in power, the minimum wage in this State has been increased by more than $80 a week. That is a 28 per cent increase in two and a bit years. If the amount of $20 flows on through the national wage case and through the state wage case, I will be very proud that this Government will have increased the minimum wage by more than $100 in three years to take care of the people whom Labor Governments are elected to protect and to make sure that their interests are looked after. In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
In addition, this has been done at a time when this State has had very good economic growth due to the turnaround in the economy that the Premier, the Treasurer and the ministry have created. The Liberal Party left us with an economy that was shrinking by 1.2 per cent in its last year in government. There is now four or five per cent economic growth. Jobs are being created, and the benefits of that should flow through with decent wages, particularly for the lowest-paid workers. The Government will support that argument at the national wage case and then at the state wage case.
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