❓ The Minister expresses concern over the potential negative impact of the federal Work Choices Bill on seniors, carers, and people with disabilities, arguing it could suppress wage growth and consequently limit pension increases. The response devolves into partisan bickering.
AnsweredQoN 740Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister advise the Assembly of any potential consequences of the federal Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Bill 2005 for seniors, carers and people with disabilities? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and her obvious interest in people less fortunate than us. I am very concerned about the impact of the federal government’s industrial relations laws on older Western Australians and people with disabilities. Pension rates in Western Australia and Australia are linked to male average weekly earnings. This means that when male average weekly earnings increase, the pension goes up accordingly. An assessment is made periodically, throughout the year, to assess the pension. Accordingly, pensions for our older citizens rise. When there is an unfair and draconian industrial relations system, wages go down. The last time the Liberal Party was in power in Western Australia, wages, especially for people on lower incomes, went down in this state. Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and her obvious interest in people less fortunate than us. I am very concerned about the impact of the federal government’s industrial relations laws on older Western Australians and people with disabilities. Pension rates in Western Australia and Australia are linked to male average weekly earnings. This means that when male average weekly earnings increase, the pension goes up accordingly. An assessment is made periodically, throughout the year, to assess the pension. Accordingly, pensions for our older citizens rise. When there is an unfair and draconian industrial relations system, wages go down. The last time the Liberal Party was in power in Western Australia, wages, especially for people on lower incomes, went down in this state. Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and her obvious interest in people less fortunate than us. I am very concerned about the impact of the federal government’s industrial relations laws on older Western Australians and people with disabilities. Pension rates in Western Australia and Australia are linked to male average weekly earnings. This means that when male average weekly earnings increase, the pension goes up accordingly. An assessment is made periodically, throughout the year, to assess the pension. Accordingly, pensions for our older citizens rise. When there is an unfair and draconian industrial relations system, wages go down. The last time the Liberal Party was in power in Western Australia, wages, especially for people on lower incomes, went down in this state. Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and her obvious interest in people less fortunate than us. I am very concerned about the impact of the federal government’s industrial relations laws on older Western Australians and people with disabilities. Pension rates in Western Australia and Australia are linked to male average weekly earnings. This means that when male average weekly earnings increase, the pension goes up accordingly. An assessment is made periodically, throughout the year, to assess the pension. Accordingly, pensions for our older citizens rise. When there is an unfair and draconian industrial relations system, wages go down. The last time the Liberal Party was in power in Western Australia, wages, especially for people on lower incomes, went down in this state. Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question and her obvious interest in people less fortunate than us. I am very concerned about the impact of the federal government’s industrial relations laws on older Western Australians and people with disabilities. Pension rates in Western Australia and Australia are linked to male average weekly earnings. This means that when male average weekly earnings increase, the pension goes up accordingly. An assessment is made periodically, throughout the year, to assess the pension. Accordingly, pensions for our older citizens rise. When there is an unfair and draconian industrial relations system, wages go down. The last time the Liberal Party was in power in Western Australia, wages, especially for people on lower incomes, went down in this state. Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What happens if they go up? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse does not care about those people. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Vasse has come a long way since he was a member of the Labor Party back in the 1980s. He has forgotten what he used to believe in. We are grateful that he is on the other side. We are very happy that he is on that side and not with us. In fact, he never would have made it through on this side; he is far better on that side of the house. Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr T.R. Buswell : If you are the bar, it is not very high! Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I keep reading in The West Australian about the wonderful wit of the member for Vasse, but The West Australian is only half right! Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr J.J.M. Bowler : You will probably have to explain it to him! Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know. We would not have him on our side. Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
Under the industrial relations system of the state Liberal Party when it was in office, people in Western Australia at the bottom end of the salary scale were $50 a week worse off than those in other states in Australia. Since this government has come to office, it has increased the minimum wage for these people throughout our community. Cleaners, shop assistants, school aides, and people in these sorts of jobs do better under Labor governments than they would under the Liberal alternative. What is the impact on pensioners? If average wages go down, or do not increase at the rate at which they are increasing under the existing system, pensions will not increase in the same way that they do now. That means, again, that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community will suffer.
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