Australia’s minimum wage will be raised by 3.5 per cent of $719.20 a week from 1 July. 

The current minimum wage for Australia’s lowest-paid workers is $18.29 per hour, making up $694.90 in a 38 hour week (before tax). Casual workers with the national minimum wage receives at least a 25 per cent due to casual loading. 

This will be raised to $18.93 per hour, as workers will receive a total pay rise of $24.30 a week. 

“The prevailing economic circumstances provide an opportunity to improve the relative living standards of the low-paid and to enable them to better meet their needs,” the Fair Work Commission president, Iain Ross said. “The economic indicators now point more unequivocally to a health national economy and labour market.” 

“The circumstances are such that it is appropriate to provide a real wage increate to those employees who have their wages set by the national minimum wage or by a national minimum award,” he added. 

However, this is still significant less than the 7.2 per cent rise appeal from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). This would equal a weekly pay rise of $50. 

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said that although 3.5 per cent is the largest percentage increase ever awarded by the Fair Work Commission, there are still more work to be done.  

“It is a step forward towards a living wage, but it’s not a living wage,” Ms McManus said. “We need in our country, for no full-time worker to live in poverty.”

“We have to change the rules on the minimum wage,” she added.