Australia's Minimum Wage Review: Unions Seek 6% Rise, Business Cautions

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was quick off the mark today, getting ahead of the release of the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review.

The decision will apply to almost 3 million workers on the minimum and award wage.

Speaking with ABC's News Breakfast, Chalmers says the government has made it clear minimum wage and award workers deserve "a real and decent wage increase".

But he didn't put a number on how the government would like to see wages rise by.

"Governments for good reason don't nominate a specific number but we've made our views clear on this occasion, as we have on other occasions," he says, adding it would be important to assist with the cost-of-living.

Chalmers is keen to link whatever today's decision is to the upcoming tax cuts and the government's focus on housing.

Unions are hoping for a pay increase for minimum wage workers as the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review is handed down today.

Each year, the wages umpire review's Australia's minimum wage and decides whether or not pay rates should increase.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions is hoping for a 6 per cent pay rise for the country's lowest paid workers.

But the Australian Industry Group, which represents businesses, have said that would be "ludicrous" and that businesses cannot absorb such costs.

Any changes would come into affect on July 1.

One Nation's representation in the lower house will double on when Farrer MP David Farley is sworn in today.

"It's quite humbling to be the first One Nation member to enter the lower house .. it's also quite exciting that we've been able to achieve this," he told ABC's Radio National Breakfast.

"Not only exciting for myself but exciting for all the constituents of Farrer and extremely exciting and proud moment for Pauline Hanson herself."

Farley was elected to the seat of Farrer in a by-election last month, sparked by the resignation of Sussan Ley.

He arrives in parliament a day after the latest Australian Financial Review/Redbridge poll put One Nation ahead of Labor on primary vote support.

Farley reiterated his leader and colleague Barnaby Joyce, urging people to keep the poll in perspective.

"It is a poll. It is not a ballot," he says.

Farley says Australians are feeling discomfort across the board and that's why they are turning to One Nation.

"People cannot put their head above the daily parapet and look at a target and say, we're going here. The government's having a lot of problems in articulating their narrative of where they want Australia to be."

Hi friends. Welcome to our daily federal politics live blog.

I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here and ready to guide you through the day.

Well, MPs are back in town for another sitting week. Meanwhile, Senators and bureaucrats are warming up for four days of everyone's favourite part of the schedule: estimates.

Elsewhere, a little birdy has told me Treasurer Jim Chalmers will be out and about this morning ahead of the release of the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review decision. Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale is also in town for meetings with Anthony Albanese.

It's gearing up to be a busy day. So let's jump straight in.

Loading