During a recent forum in Tasmania, Liberal candidate Mal Hingston addressed the impact of employee regulations on small businesses, highlighting the "unintended consequences" of recent reforms. He noted that changes had affected the availability of seasonal workers, specifically mentioning that "we inadvertently killed off the grey nomads." These individuals, often retirees, used to work as fruit pickers, accepting lower wages as part of a social activity while supplementing their pensions. Hingston remarked, "They were happy with 10 bucks an hour or whatever it was."
The national minimum wage, currently set at $24.10 per hour as of July 1, 2024, was increased by the Albanese government, affecting a significant portion of the workforce. Hingston suggested a potential rollback of these reforms, stating, "We're going to rewind some of the stuff that Albanese's done."
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus criticized Hingston's comments, interpreting them as indicative of the Liberal Party's approach to workplace relations. She expressed concern over the implications for older workers, suggesting that a Dutton government might support lower wages.
A Coalition spokesperson clarified their stance, affirming support for the Fair Work Commission's role in setting the minimum wage. "We support the process of the independent Fair Work Commission setting the rate of the minimum wage as part of their annual wage review," the spokesperson stated.
Source: News.com