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The Albanese government has asked the Fair Work Commission to give 2.9 million lower-paid workers an “economically sustainable real wage increase” – that is, above the rate of inflation.
Labor’s proposal has already raised questions and concerns. How will Fair Work respond? Would the move drive up inflation? And could it be a risky move amid languishing productivity, as the Reserve Bank has hinted?
As Chris F. Wright explains, these fears of economic knock-on effects are likely overblown. And the benefits of a real wages boost – which would predominantly help lower-income workers – would likely outweigh the costs.
The wages pledge was just one of many policy announcements that will be made at electorally strategic spots across the country as the campaign unfolds. Our State of the states series brings together a panel of political experts from each state to discuss how the campaign is playing out in their neck of the woods. We start today with the key seats to watch, and we’ll have plenty more state-by-state analysis between now and May 3.
And there’s still time to fill in our Set the Agenda survey and let us know what issues matter most to you at the election.
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Matthew Hall
Deputy Business & Economy Editor
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Chris F. Wright, University of Sydney
A real boost to award wages is unlikely to drive up inflation, nor adversely impact productivity. But it would provide cost-of-living relief to Australia’s lowest-paid workers.
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David Clune, University of Sydney; Narelle Miragliotta, Murdoch University; Paul Williams, Griffith University; Robert Hortle, University of Tasmania; Rob Manwaring, Flinders University; Zareh Ghazarian, Monash University
In what’s sure to be a closely fought election, every vote counts, but some seats will see particularly tight races. Which ones are most at play?
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
As we prepare for Trump’s “Liberation Day”, both sides of the campaign are bracing to see how Trump will affect the campaign.
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Aaron Humphrey, University of Adelaide
Leading man of 1990s Hollywood, Val Kilmer, has died at 65.
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Madeleine Fraser, Australian Catholic University
Why are children reluctant to divulge information about their school day and how can you encourage more details?
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Daniel Johnston, University of Sydney
On the political stage, image is everything. So politicians use props and theatrics to stir emotion and create memorable moments.
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David Carlin, RMIT University
Rawson, in burrowing from question to question, draws on a vibrant array of thinkers and essayists in environmental philosophy.
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Samuel Whittle, Monash University
A new review has found a lack of convincing evidence stem cell injections are helpful for knee osteoarthritis. But there are ways to manage this painful condition.
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Claudia Reyes, Australian National University
Stars are constantly vibrating because of ‘starquakes’. Listening to their sound can reveal a surprising amount of information.
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Cornelia Sattler, Macquarie University; Julian Schrader, Macquarie University
Many native plants are missing from habitats where they should thrive – even in wilder areas. Why? Human actions such as logging, poaching and setting fires.
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Politics + Society
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Brigid O'Connell, Deakin University; Kristy Hess, Deakin University
While small publications are springing up to fill “news deserts” there are concerns around quality and transparency.
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Bruce Wolpe, University of Sydney
US senators engage in lengthy speeches when they are losing. This is clearly what motivated Cory Booker’s 25-hour speech: a sense the Democrats are losing to Trump.
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Health + Medicine
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Lesley Russell, University of Sydney
Trump’s war on science is threatening even Australian research projects. So why does a growing pot of medical research funds remain unallocated?
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Thomas Jeffries, Western Sydney University
LP.8.1, a descendant of Omicron, is driving a growing proportion of COVID infections in Australia and elsewhere.
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Science + Technology
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T.J. Thomson, RMIT University
As the tide of AI ‘slop’ rises, it’s more important than ever to hone your reality-checking skills.
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Raffaele F Ciriello, University of Sydney
Nomi AI is marketed as an “AI companion with memory and a soul”. But it has a much darker side which highlights the urgent need for enforceable AI safety standards.
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Environment + Energy
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Euan Ritchie, Deakin University; John Woinarski, Charles Darwin University; Martine Maron, The University of Queensland
Three experts consider what’s required to protect and conserve Australia’s natural wonders, from fighting invaders to stopping habitat loss and saving species.
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Education
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Jessica Holloway, Australian Catholic University
Peter Dutton wants to ensure schools are not ‘guided into some sort of an agenda that’s come out of universities’. Who creates the ‘map’ of what kids learn?
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Arts + Culture
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Grace McQuilten, RMIT University; Chloë Powell, RMIT University; Jenny Lye, The University of Melbourne; Kate MacNeill, The University of Melbourne; Marnie Badham, RMIT University
Artists and arts workers are facing financial stress, gender pay gaps, long hours and unstable work – with many leaving the sector as a result.
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Gregory Camp, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
With their new show Happiness, Kip Chapman and Luke Di Somma have created a welcome New Zealand answer to the backstage musical TV show.
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Kirk Dodd, University of Sydney
This new production from Sport for Jove presents eight of Shakepeare’s history plays in order. It is stupendously absorbing and exquisitely realised.
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Books + Ideas
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Tim Rowse, Western Sydney University
Kate Grenville’s book successfully intertwines national and personal history to evoke Australia’s past – but multiculturalism challenges her idea of collective memory.
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Business + Economy
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Christian Yao, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
China’s vast middle class is now changing its values, aspirations and consumption habits in an era of much slower economic growth – dubbed ‘garbage time’.
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