[Australia] Business groups demand cap on minimum wage increases

In Australia, business groups have demanded a government cap of two per cent on any increase to the minimum wage, in the hope of reducing inflation and avoiding unemployment rate rises, 9News reports.

Smaller companies struggling with the current business climate claim they have been left 'short-changed' by the federal government's third budget. 

"Small business at the moment is being strangled by rising red tape and increased input costs," Andrew McKellar - chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - said.

"They can't afford to be paying over the odds in terms of wages."

This year's budget reportedly provided $640 million to support small businesses including power bill rebates and an extension to the instant asset write-off.

"Small businesses weren't left out in the cold entirely, but they certainly weren't front and centre in this budget," Luke Achterstraat - chief executive of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia - said.

Michele O'Neil - President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions - was reportedly critical of any suggestion of capping the minimum wage.

"How greedy are these big business lobby groups?" she said.

"It's unfair and it's insulting to low-paid workers in Australia."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the budget's contribution to small businesses while speaking in Queensland on May 18.

"We know people are doing it tough and that's why so much of what we handed down on Tuesday night is about supporting small businesses and people doing it tough," he said.

"The cost of living relief in the budget is on top of, not instead of decent pay for working people."

Source: 9News

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Australia, business groups have demanded a government cap of two per cent on any increase to the minimum wage, in the hope of reducing inflation and avoiding unemployment rate rises, 9News reports.

Smaller companies struggling with the current business climate claim they have been left 'short-changed' by the federal government's third budget. 

"Small business at the moment is being strangled by rising red tape and increased input costs," Andrew McKellar - chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - said.

"They can't afford to be paying over the odds in terms of wages."

This year's budget reportedly provided $640 million to support small businesses including power bill rebates and an extension to the instant asset write-off.

"Small businesses weren't left out in the cold entirely, but they certainly weren't front and centre in this budget," Luke Achterstraat - chief executive of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia - said.

Michele O'Neil - President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions - was reportedly critical of any suggestion of capping the minimum wage.

"How greedy are these big business lobby groups?" she said.

"It's unfair and it's insulting to low-paid workers in Australia."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the budget's contribution to small businesses while speaking in Queensland on May 18.

"We know people are doing it tough and that's why so much of what we handed down on Tuesday night is about supporting small businesses and people doing it tough," he said.

"The cost of living relief in the budget is on top of, not instead of decent pay for working people."

Source: 9News

(Quotes via original reporting)