Source : Perth Now news
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has called on the Coalition not to vote against landmark tax reforms set to be debated later this week, as he backs an substantial increase to the minimum wage.
The Fair Work Commission is expected to announce any change to the minimum wage at 10am on Tuesday.
Currently, the minimum wage is $24.95 per hour, or $948 per week.
Mr Chalmers, speaking from Brisbane, said the government had called on the Commission to announce a “substantial real wage increase for millions of Australian workers”.
“Decent pay and conditions is a really important way that we help people with the cost of living,” he said.
“We’ve been very supportive throughout when it comes to increases in the minimum wage … That’s what the submission that myself and (Employment Minister) Amanda Rishworth have put in to the Fair Work Commission.”
The Commission is independent from the government, from which it receives submissions on any changes to the minimum wage.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) asked the Commission for a six per cent pay rise for three million award wage workers last month.
Meanwhile, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are requesting a “moderate increase of 3.5 per cent” to the National Minimum Wage.
Inflation is now running at 4.6 per cent.
Mr Chalmers has previously indicated inflation will go up to five per cent – which could lead to any rise in wages coming in lower than the inflation rate.
Any increase to the minimum wage will come into effect from July 1.
It comes as parliament prepares to debate changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing announced in the 2026-26 budget.
Mr Chalmers said the forthcoming sitting week was big week in the economy, and that the reforms were “all about cutting taxes for workers and making it easier for people to buy their first home”.
“We call on the Coalition not to vote against housing and not to vote against tax cuts again like they did in their first term,” Mr Chalmers said.
In 2025, the Coalition voted against a tax offset and instant write-off contained in that year’s budget.
“They’re showing every sign of having not learned a thing or changed a bit since the first term when they made those mistakes,” Mr Chalmers said.
He continued: “Our political opponents have got three strategies: to talk down our economy, talk up division in our society, and defend the current arrangements in the housing market and the tax system, which are locking too many people out of their first home.”
Mr Chalmers lashed shadow treasurer Tim Wilson for being “prepared to weaponize a scare campaign full of lies” against reforms he called for in parliament and in his book.
“We’ve heard that the Coalition is preparing some kind of stunt when it comes to coming up with an excuse not to vote for Labor’s tax cuts,” he said.
“We remind everyone that the opposition has already committed to $110bn of uncollected and unfunded commitments over the forward estimates and more than half $1 trillion of unfunded and costed commitments over the medium term as well.
“But, theirs is a recipe for much bigger deficits, much more debt, and higher inflation as well.”
