with
HON TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
and
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCIENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR GORTON

New data has revealed that weak wages growth has stalled further.

No wonder so many Australians feel like no matter how hard they work they just can’t get ahead.

Today’s release of the ABS wage price index confirms that wages growth remains stagnant at 2.2 per cent, falling short of Budget forecasts which were downgraded only two months ago.

Annual growth in private and public sector wages remains weak, with both growing by only 2.2 per cent over the year to December.

The Morrison Government’s spectacular failure on wages makes a mockery of Josh Frydenberg’s claim that “Wages growth is a core focus for this Government".

Right when Australians need a plan to get their wages moving again, the Liberals and Nationals are too busy finger-pointing, blame-shifting, attacking unions and playing musical chairs.

Like much of the Australian economy, wages growth was weak long before the bushfires hit or anyone had heard of Coronavirus.

It’s high time the Morrison Government stopped navel-gazing and focussed on coming up with a comprehensive plan to restore the economic and wages growth which has deteriorated on its watch.