Boosting Minimum Wages for Aussies

A decision by the Australian Fair Pay Commission confirms Australia’s status as the nation with the second highest minimum wage in the developed world.

The decision means low paid workers receive an extra $10.26 a week taking the minimum wage from October 1 2007 to $522.12 a week.

With the cost of living being what it is, even with the increase to minumum wages, it still appears pretty rough. As frugal as our household is, I couldn't imagine feeding and housing a family on minimum wage. Still, let's not forget the additional social support available to Aussie families.

The recent report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that after families receive government benefits, principally family tax benefit, only 40 per cent of households pay any net tax — that is, they get more back in family tax benefits than they actually pay in tax.

In my opinion, we really do live in the lucky country. Without a doubt, we have one of the most generous social support systems in the world. Unfortunately, generosity is open to abuse and can lead to a sense of entitlement or a cycle of dependency.

What do you think? Should we have minimum wage laws? Is it better to leave the labour market sort itself? Does the welfare system need to toughen up on some recipients? Who and how?