Minimum wage
Q. The current Australian minimum wage for adult workers is $16.37 per hour or $640.90 for a 38-hour week. Do you think this is too high, too low or about right?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Work full time |
Work part time |
Total too low |
61% |
69% |
43% |
73% |
74% |
51% |
68% |
||
Total too high |
6% |
2% |
12% |
6% |
3% |
10% |
2% |
||
Much too low |
25% |
31% |
13% |
28% |
34% |
22% |
29% |
||
A little to low |
36% |
38% |
30% |
45% |
40% |
29% |
39% |
||
About right |
27% |
24% |
39% |
18% |
19% |
32% |
24% |
||
A little too high |
3% |
1% |
7% |
1% |
2% |
5% |
2% |
||
Much too high |
3% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
1% |
5% |
– |
||
Don’t know |
7% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
4% |
6% |
7% |
61% believe that the current minimum wage is too low, 27% think it is about right and 6% think it is too high.
Those most likely to think it is too low were Greens voters (73%), Labor voters (69%), part time workers (68%) and women (67%).
Policies important to fostering equality
Q. Which areas of government policy are most important to fostering equality in Australia? (select 2)
Total |
|
First |
Second |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
|
Access to affordable health care |
60% |
32% |
28% |
69% |
53% |
54% |
60% |
||
A minimum wage that covers the basics of life |
45% |
22% |
23% |
44% |
49% |
53% |
46% |
||
Well resourced public schools |
28% |
12% |
16% |
26% |
30% |
34% |
35% |
||
A strong social welfare system |
24% |
12% |
12% |
37% |
13% |
33% |
19% |
||
Policies that ensure strong economic growth like cutting company tax |
20% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
38% |
4% |
17% |
||
Taxes that redistribute wealth across generations e.g. inheritance tax |
8% |
4% |
4% |
10% |
6% |
10% |
11% |
||
Don’t know |
7% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
7% |
3% |
7% |
The most important areas of Government policy in fostering equality in Australia were access to affordable health care (60%) and a minimum wage that covers the basics of life (45%).
Labor voters were more likely to nominate a strong social welfare system (37%) while Liberal/National voters were more likely to favour policies that ensure strong economic growth like cutting company tax (38%).

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