Thread by @Raecooper1

🧵 We’ve lost a lot of understanding of how IR works in Australia. An award increase via a full bench of the FWC increases the legal minimum paid to employees in a sector. #insiders 1/

Government can (and in my view, *should*) express a view in such cases. The FWC will take into account commitments made by government. Because they are effectively the funder 2/

In 2012 - in another major decision, but under a different section of the Act (equal remuneration then v work value now) in 2012. The federal government committed to fund outcomes for community service workers. 3/

This commitment was critical in facilitating (similarly vital, underpaid) workers in this sector achieving significant increases in their pay phased over several years - decided by the FWC 4/

Whoever wins the election, government must fund wage increases. But if government (whichever) doesn’t support an increase, it is likely to be very minimal (they set the $$ in the sector) /5

Added to all of this- the sector is in crisis and can’t get or keep the workers they need, partly because of job quality including low pay. Increasing wages, and provisioning to fund them, is urgent government business and is sensible socially and economically
5/

If media has questions on this, I recommend talking to some experts. Like- Profs @Meg_Smith61 @DrFionaMac Sara Charlesworth, @ElizabethHill00. That way you’ll get the facts 🙏. 6/.