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Poll finds most Australians believe job security and wage disparity are getting worse | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A majority of Australians – including a majority of Coalition voters – think that the gap between the rich and poor is growing and jobs are getting less secure. | A majority of Australians – including a majority of Coalition voters – think that the gap between the rich and poor is growing and jobs are getting less secure. |
A ReachTel poll of 3,896 Australians found that 68.8% believe the gap between rich and poor is growing, compared with 25.8% who think it is about the same and 5.4% who believe it is shrinking. | A ReachTel poll of 3,896 Australians found that 68.8% believe the gap between rich and poor is growing, compared with 25.8% who think it is about the same and 5.4% who believe it is shrinking. |
An even larger majority, 78.5%, of voters thought jobs were becoming less secure, compared with 12.6% who were unsure and 8.9% who believed they were more secure. | An even larger majority, 78.5%, of voters thought jobs were becoming less secure, compared with 12.6% who were unsure and 8.9% who believed they were more secure. |
The poll, commissioned by United Voice, was released on Friday before a campaign rally in Melbourne at which cleaners, childcare educators, hospitality workers and security guards will demand the federal government do more to fight income inequality. | The poll, commissioned by United Voice, was released on Friday before a campaign rally in Melbourne at which cleaners, childcare educators, hospitality workers and security guards will demand the federal government do more to fight income inequality. |
On October 24 the Fair Work Commission will begin hearing a case about whether it can set minimum wage targets so that the lowest paid keep up with growth in average earnings. | On October 24 the Fair Work Commission will begin hearing a case about whether it can set minimum wage targets so that the lowest paid keep up with growth in average earnings. |
The commission sets the minimum wage, currently set at $673 a week, but unions have called for the commission to set medium-term targets to reverse a trend of annual increases not keeping up. | The commission sets the minimum wage, currently set at $673 a week, but unions have called for the commission to set medium-term targets to reverse a trend of annual increases not keeping up. |
United Voice says that the current minimum wage of $17.70 an hour has fallen from 65% of median earnings in 1985 to 53% in 2015. | United Voice says that the current minimum wage of $17.70 an hour has fallen from 65% of median earnings in 1985 to 53% in 2015. |
Among Coalition voters, a slim majority (50.3%) thought the gap between rich and poor was growing and a larger majority (68.9%) thought jobs were getting less secure. | Among Coalition voters, a slim majority (50.3%) thought the gap between rich and poor was growing and a larger majority (68.9%) thought jobs were getting less secure. |
Asked about the $673 a week minimum wage, compared with the average wage of $1,516 a week, 59.4% of people thought it was too low. A further 34.9% thought it was “about right” and just 5.8% thought it was too high. | Asked about the $673 a week minimum wage, compared with the average wage of $1,516 a week, 59.4% of people thought it was too low. A further 34.9% thought it was “about right” and just 5.8% thought it was too high. |
More Coalition voters believed the minimum wage was about right (49.8%) than too low (41.8%). | More Coalition voters believed the minimum wage was about right (49.8%) than too low (41.8%). |
A majority of people (67.9%) believed the government was not doing enough to address the gap between the rich and poor. | A majority of people (67.9%) believed the government was not doing enough to address the gap between the rich and poor. |
United Voice’s Victorian secretary, Jess Walsh, said: “Over the past few decades we’ve seen a huge gulf open up between people on the bottom and those at top, along with a hollowing out of the middle. | United Voice’s Victorian secretary, Jess Walsh, said: “Over the past few decades we’ve seen a huge gulf open up between people on the bottom and those at top, along with a hollowing out of the middle. |
“Our members say it’s impossible to properly support a family on just $17.70 an hour. | “Our members say it’s impossible to properly support a family on just $17.70 an hour. |
“Australians want strong and deliberate action to reduce inequality. But it’s pretty clear from this poll they believe [Malcolm] Turnbull is asleep at the wheel. In fact, he’s driving us off a cliff.” | “Australians want strong and deliberate action to reduce inequality. But it’s pretty clear from this poll they believe [Malcolm] Turnbull is asleep at the wheel. In fact, he’s driving us off a cliff.” |
According to United Voice’s submission to FWC targets could lift the minimum weekly wage of $672.70 to $866.68 in four years – an increase of 29% that would boost the hourly rate from $17.70 an hour to $22.81. | According to United Voice’s submission to FWC targets could lift the minimum weekly wage of $672.70 to $866.68 in four years – an increase of 29% that would boost the hourly rate from $17.70 an hour to $22.81. |
In August the ABS revealed that, in the past year, wages in the private sector grew by just 1.9% in trend terms – marking four years of falling wages growth. | In August the ABS revealed that, in the past year, wages in the private sector grew by just 1.9% in trend terms – marking four years of falling wages growth. |
Figures released in August show unemployment in Australia sits at 5.72%, the lowest in almost three years, but full-time work has continued to decline, particularly among young people aged 15-24. | Figures released in August show unemployment in Australia sits at 5.72%, the lowest in almost three years, but full-time work has continued to decline, particularly among young people aged 15-24. |
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has recognised that, despite growth in the economy, growth in incomes has been weak, constituting what he calls an “earnings problem”. | The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has recognised that, despite growth in the economy, growth in incomes has been weak, constituting what he calls an “earnings problem”. |
When the last set of national accounts were released on 7 September, Morrison said “we need to grow incomes and ... off the basis of improved growth in the economy and improved productivity”. | When the last set of national accounts were released on 7 September, Morrison said “we need to grow incomes and ... off the basis of improved growth in the economy and improved productivity”. |
He said he didn’t want to see a wages “explosion” or wage inflation. “I am not going to task the union movement to do that because they are always quite willing to go down that path.” | He said he didn’t want to see a wages “explosion” or wage inflation. “I am not going to task the union movement to do that because they are always quite willing to go down that path.” |