This Month
Unions to ramp up pay claims despite inflation slowdown
Unions want to make up for “lost ground” after years of cost-of-living pressure, despite Treasury forecasts that inflation could fall beneath 3 per cent by Christmas.
- Updated
- Michael Read and David Marin-Guzman
Real wages forecast to grow by 0.5pc a year
Workers will enjoy substantial real wage growth for three years, according to Treasury, even as pay and inflation forecasts clash with the Reserve Bank.
- David Marin-Guzman
Aged care providers back delaying pay rises
Aged care employers have supported the government’s proposal to phase-in aged care pay rises, clashing with unions who are demanding the full rise by July 1.
- David Marin-Guzman
April
Highest-paid CFOs revealed
The country’s top CFOs continue to enjoy a “breakout period” on pay and remain in the box seat as the country’s next CEOs.
- Patrick Durkin
Haircuts, dentist visits and movie tickets inflict inflation pain
Everyday activities are among the 31 common household purchases where year-ended inflation rose between December 2023 and March 2024.
- Michael Read
Why 3pc wage rises may become the new norm
New research from NAB forecasts productivity growth will remain at its lowest rate in more than 70 years, leading living standards to stagnate.
- Michael Read
Ban restraints on poaching staff: RBA board member
Workers should be allowed to solicit ex-colleagues to jump ship to competitors and staff should be paid while under non-compete clauses, a former judge has urged.
- David Marin-Guzman
March
Unions’ 5pc wage claim will keep interest rates high: business
Employers say the ACTU’s bid for a 5 per cent increase is “an open letter to the RBA to keep interest rates higher for longer”, while economists warn it will have an inflationary effect.
- David Marin-Guzman
Union push for 5pc minimum wage rise sets up pay showdown
ACTU secretary Sally McManus will argue the pay claim for 2.9 million workers will not drive up inflation.
- David Marin-Guzman
Wave of NSW wage claims up to 8pc could trigger broader pay rises
Unions want wage increases of up to 8 per cent as they prepare to negotiate new deals with railway, energy and health care workers in the most populous state.
- Samantha Hutchinson
RBA to watch for ‘spillover’ from aged care pay rise
Michele Bullock will be alert to the effects from the “very worthy” 14 per cent wage increase but says this is unlikely to shift forecasts for inflation.
- David Marin-Guzman
Aged care workers win pay rises of up to 14pc, fuelling inflation fears
More than 300,000 aged care workers have won large pay rises that are expected to increase wage pressures on other sectors and cost the budget billions.
- David Marin-Guzman and John Kehoe
The 30 jobs earning surprise spots in the $100k club
Seek’s list is a mix of white-collar and blue-collar jobs, but a $100,000 salary is not what it used to be.
- Euan Black
February
Smaller minimum wage rise needed to fight inflation: business
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is preparing to argue for a smaller increase in the minimum wage than it was prepared to accept last year.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Inflation
Wage growth drives inflation, average pay tops $100k
Treasury analysis shows that decade high wages growth that has pushed the average fulltime pay above $100,000 is now the biggest driver of consumer price inflation.
- Ronald Mizen
Chalmers flags crackdown on ‘restraint clauses’
Almost one in three Australian workers is subject to a non-compete clause, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says.
- Michael Read
- Updated
- Interest rates
Public servant pay rises push wage growth to 14-year high
Experts say the data probably marks the peak in wage growth, and the gradual slowdown in the job market is expected to bring smaller pay rises in the coming year.
- Updated
- Michael Read
- Updated
- Interest rates
‘Job is not done’ on fighting inflation: RBA
Michele Bullock says she is yet to be convinced inflation is on a sustainable path back to target and further interest rate rises could not be ruled out.
- Ronald Mizen
Inflation back to middle of target in mid-2026: RBA
The RBA’s latest quarterly outlook for the economy assumes inflation will fall to 3.3 per cent by June but take another 18 months to fall into the central bank’s target range.
- Ronald Mizen
