Cost-of-living

Wages are going up, inflation is coming down, and more cost-of-living relief is on the way. But only if we keep Dutton and the Coalition out of government.

Higher Wages

Real wages have grown more in the last year than they did under nearly ten years of the Coalition Government.

New rights = pay rises

New rights for workers, introduced by the Albanese Labor Government, have delivered pay rises.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition voted against these new rights – and have committed to cutting workers’ rights, if elected.

Wage Growth Under Governments chart and Wages and workers' rights 'on the line' at next election

Big business profits

A decade under the Coalition Government saw profits soaring above wage growth, because Liberal wage-cutting loopholes (including wage theft) made it easier for Big Business to rip off workers.

Dutton voted against making wage theft a crime.

Big Business are demanding that Dutton bring back their wage-cutting schemes if he gets elected. Dutton has promised them he will.

Profits versus Wages chart and Peter Dutton promises to overturn Labor's IR reform in the next election

Minimum wage increases

Three years of decent increases to the minimum wage – backed by the Albanese Labor Government – have delivered pay rises. This year, Labor is calling for an increase that is higher than inflation.

Peter Dutton has never advocated for an increase to the minimum wage, and this year is no different. He would never disagree with Big Business, who are advocating for a real wage cut.

Dutton stops short of backing wage rise above inflation for lowest paid workers

Protect penalty rates

Big Business are calling for penalty rates to be dumped.

If these cuts go through, millions of workers across Australia will face wage cuts – some up to $16,000 per year.

70% of Australians say that protecting penalty rates is a critical workplace issue. The Albanese Government have said they will introduce legislation to protect penalty rates in awards.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition have zero plans to stop Big Business and have ruled out supporting the legislation.

This is consistent with Dutton voting against protecting penalty rates eight times.

Peter Dutton voted consistently for getting rid of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates and Coalition won't support Labor's changes to protect weekend penalty rates

Don’t risk Dutton on wages

Low wages have always been a “deliberate design feature” ⁽¹⁾ of Liberal policies and they say that real wage growth would be “the worst thing for Australians”.⁽²⁾

Other Cost-of-living Measures

It’s not just wage increases that Peter Dutton doesn’t support.

Tax cuts

Dutton and the Coalition voted against tax cuts that would reduce the average workers’ taxes by $2,548 per year, ⁽³⁾ and have committed to repealing them if elected.

Surprise tax cuts pass Senate but Coalition vows to repeal them

Interest rate cuts

Dutton opposed a rate cut in February because he thought it would help him in the election.

Dutton urges RBA to resist pressure to cut rates

Cheaper electricity

Dutton says he will cancel the Albanese Government’s energy bill relief; increasing the cost of electricity for all Australians.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton argues against further energy bill subsidies as Labor accuses him of hypocrisy

Free TAFE

Dutton and the Coalition voted against extending Labor’s Free TAFE scheme and have promised to axe it, if elected.

Peter Dutton to axe free TAFE courses if elected Prime Minister

Cheaper childcare

Dutton plans to re-introduce the childcare activity test; making life harder for parents, particularly women.

Coalition to reinstate 'punitive' activity test for parentes accessing childcare