What Australian Unions declared to be "the largest increase to minimum and Award wages in Australia’s history" occurred on Thursday 1 June 2023 - effective 1 July

 

This was Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus writing on the Australian Unions website, 2 June 2023:

Today the Fair Work Commission announced that workers on the national minimum wage will receive a pay rise of 8.6 per cent. Workers on Award wages will have their pay increased by 5.75 per cent. Both of those increases will come into effect in the first pay period after 1 July 2023.

The union movement fought hard for this pay increase. Up against us were the big business lobby – who argued for a real-wage cut.

All union members should be proud of this pay rise. It’s the largest increase to minimum and Award wages in Australia’s history.

It’s what unions do – we use our strength in numbers to ensure that working peoples’ pay gets moving again.

Increasing pay is the most important step to reducing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis….

Come July 2023 the approx. 20.5 per cent of Australian employees (est. 2.75 million individuals) who are paid in accordance with minimum wage rates in modern awards and the 0.7 per cent of Australian employees (est. 180,000 individuals) paid the National Minimum Wage – workers who are also much more likely to be low paid, mostly work part-time hours, are predominantly female, almost half being casual employees and probably having no entitled to paid leave – will see more dollars in their pay packets.

According to The Guardian on 2 June 2023, the Fair Work Commission’s statement indicates the minimum wages will increase to $882.80 per week or $23.23 per hour.

This appears to translate to a new hourly rate of $23.21 for those on the National Minimum Wage.

Based on ABS labour force numbers for April 2023, it is expected that up to 21 per cent of the current 13.87 million strong national workforce may benefit from these minimum wage rate rises.

Given that an est. 54,927 employees in Northern Rivers region worked part-time by 2021 and an est. 35,028 were female, there may be quite a few local residents with a little more in their pay packets next month.

However, as most of the modern award-reliant workforce is employed under a relatively small number of modern awards covering specific industries or occupations, the effect of the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2022-23 Decision differs markedly between industry sectors and, along with the increase in the National Minimum Wage will have a limited effect on the national wages bill.

Which is not to say that employer lobby groups will not be frequenting newspaper, radio and television platforms voicing ‘the sky is falling’ predictions over the next week.

Cartoons of the Week

 

David Pope

Megan Herbert

John Shakespeare

Tweet of the Week

 

Thank you ladies.
Morrison won the lowest percentage of female votes in the history of the Liberal Party. I’m pretty sure Dutton hasn’t won a single one back. pic.twitter.com/RTVIBBK0Qp

— SharynM (@SharynLeeMcG) May 29, 2023

 

TETRIARY EDUCATION STATE OF PLAY 2023: Australia took 121 years to finally establish national free university education and less than 33 years to totally destroy the idea that tertiary education should be fee free

 

In 1974 the Whitlam Labor Government gave the Commonwealth full control over higher education funding and made a university education free for those who met the educational entrance requirements of tertiary institutions.

In 1976 the Fraser Coalition Government tried to re-introduced tuition fees for post-graduate and second degrees as well as for tuition fees for foreign students – with limited success.

However by 1983 the international and national economic climate began to test the resolve of the incoming Hawke Labor Government and in the August 1988 Budget it announced that it would introduce university tuition fees via the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 (HECS).

The scheme was to have only one rate of contribution ($1,800 in 1989) and an up-front payment discount of 15 per cent on tuition fees. Repayment of the HECS debt was to begin once the university graduate began to earn a wage over the compulsory repayment threshold and, any unpaid HECS debts would be discharged on the death of the graduate.

In the following years the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments tinkered with repayment schedules and introduced new schemes based on HECS repayment arrangements for specific groups of students.

However it was during the years of the Howard Coalition Government that the floodgates were fully opened allowing the ‘user pays’ rationale to begin flooding across higher education. The debt repayment threshold kicked in at a lower annual income and universities were given greater licence to use ‘market forces’ as a tool in setting course fees, amongst other measures.

This increased emphasis on ‘user pays’ tertiary education did not cease during the years of the subsequent Rudd & Gillard Labor Governments and the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Coalition Governments – with Abbott’s deregulation of university fees combined with his cuts to the level of government funding of universities being significant.

So although by 2020 there were 1,057,777 domestic students studying at Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, just 60% of first-year domestic students enrolled in undergraduate courses were aged 20 or younger, the lowest proportion since 2005 [Universities Australia, 2022 Higher Education Facts and Figures, June 2022]. Additionally, by 2021 the attrition rate showed that est. 24.2% of all enrolled university students did not complete their degree, with some indication that slightly more male students than female students might be failing to complete [Dept. of Education, Higher Education Statistics, October 2022]. By 2022 only 32% of the Australian population aged between 15-74 years of age held a bachelor degree of higher [ABS, Education and Work, Australia, May 2022].

One has to wonder what the future chilling effect on higher education choices by school leavers and mature aged students might be with the changes to student loan debt indexation announced by the Albanese Labor Government in May 2023.

National Tertiary Education Union, media release, 1 June 2023:

New report reveals some degrees could take up to 44 years to repay

A new report released by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has revealed repayment periods for some university degrees may extend up to 44 years, raising serious concerns about the accessibility and affordability of higher education in Australia.

The report, titled "The Future of Graduate Debt in Australia," reveals that under current policy settings, repayment periods for certain degrees could exceed 40 years.

Many four-year degrees could end up costing more than $100,000 once debts are repaid.

The study indicates that graduates from a Business Management degree are likely to be the worst affected, with a staggering repayment period of 44 years, totalling $119,331.

The modelling shows a Humanities and Social Sciences Honours degree could take 40 years to repay at a cost of $110,353.

Female law graduates could take 36 years to pay off their qualification, four years more than their male counterparts.

The report's release comes a day ahead of repayments on the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP) debts – also known as HECS - rising 7.1 per cent when they are indexed on Thursday.

Current total outstanding HELP debt stands at $74.3 billion for the financial year ending 2022, around four times as much as 2009.

The average amount of student debt is now $24,770 per student, up from $15,191 in 2012. Students now take an average of 9.5 years to pay off their degree, compared to 7.3 years in 2006.

The report, compiled using data from across the sector, shows a combination of newly increased course fees under the Jobs Ready Graduates Reforms, reduced repayment income thresholds, and high debt indexation are to blame for the spiralling repayment crisis.

NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes said the findings were a serious concern.

"This report paints a startling picture of the current state of tertiary education. We are seeing students who may be paying off their debts for the majority of their working lives," Dr Barnes said.

"This is not what higher education should look like. It's a barrier to equality which must be a core principle of our universities."

"We are seeing the toxic legacy of the radioactive half life of the Coalition's Jobs Ready Graduates model.

"But despite that serious damage, we are hopeful the current federal government is serious about tackling these issues to create better universities for students and staff.

"Education is a fundamental right and should not lead to decades of financial burden. We need to address this issue.

"We will continue to engage positively with the government to ensure students aren't saddled with lifelong debt into the future."

Assumptions in the report:

* Wage growth: 2.3% – the average of the last 10 years

* Indexation rate: begins at 7.07% then falls to 2.2% over the next 7 years – 2.2% is the average indexation applied over the last 19 years

* Starting salaries are those for the industry linked to each program

* In the model repayment thresholds are indexed at the same rate as student debt

INDIGENOUS VOICE TO PARLIAMENT REFERENDUM VOTE 31 MAY 2023: how ABC News reported an historic House of Representatives vote.....

 

House of Representatives, Hansard, Wednesday 31 May 2023:

The SPEAKER (Hon. Milton Dick) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read

prayers.

BILLS

Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023

Second Reading

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The SPEAKER (09:01): In accordance with the resolution agreed to on 30 May 2023, I will put the question immediately. The question before the House is that this bill be now read a second time.

The House divided. [09:05]

(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

Ayes.......................120

Noes.......................25

Majority .................95

AYES

Albanese, A. N. Aly, A. Ananda-Rajah, M.

Andrews, K. L. Archer, B. K.

Bandt, A. P. Bates, S. J. Bell, A. M. Bowen, C. E.

Burke, A. S. Burnell, M. P. Burney, L. J.

Burns, J. Butler, M. C. Byrnes, A. J.

Chalmers, J. E. Chandler-Mather, M. Chaney, K. E.

Charlton, A. H. G. Chesters, L. M. Clare J. D.

Claydon, S. C. Coker, E. A. Coleman, D. B.

Collins, J. M. Conroy, P. M.

Daniel, Z. Doyle, M. J. J. Dreyfus, M. A. Dutton, P. C.

Elliot, M. J. Entsch, W. G.

Fernando, C. Fletcher, P. W. Freelander, M. R.

Garland, C. M. L. Gee, A. R. Georganas, S. Giles, A. J.

Gorman, P. Gosling, L. J.

Haines, H. M. Hastie, A. W. Hill, J. C. Husic, E. N.

Jones, S. P.

Kearney, G. M. Keogh, M. J. Khalil, P. King, C. F. Lawrence, T. N. Laxale, J. A. A. Le, D. Leeser, J.

Leigh, A. K. Ley, S. P. Lim, S. B. C.

Marino, N. B. Marles, R. D. Mascarenhas, Z. F. A.

McBain, K. L. McBride, E. M. McIntosh, M. I.

McKenzie, Z. A. Miller-Frost, L. J. Mitchell, B. K.

Mitchell, R. G. Morrison, S. J. Mulino, D.

Murphy, P. J.

Neumann, S. K.

O'Brien, E. L. O'Connor, B. P. J. O'Neil, C. E.

Payne, A. E. Pearce, G. B. Perrett, G. D. Phillips, F. E.

Plibersek, T. J. Price, M. L.

Rae, S. T. Ramsey, R. E. Reid, G. J. Repacholi, D. P.

Rishworth, A. L. Roberts, T. G. Rowland, M. A.

Ryan, J. C. Ryan, M. M.

Scrymgour, M. R. Sharkie, R. C. C. Shorten, W. R. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) Spender, A. M. Stanley, A. M. (Teller) Steggall, Z. Stevens, J. Sukkar, M. S.

Swanson, M. J.

Taylor, A. J. Tehan, D. T. Templeman, S. R. Thistlethwaite, M. J. Thompson, P.

Thwaites, K. L. Tink, K. J.

Vamvakinou, M.

van Manen, A. J. Vasta, R. X. Violi, A. A.

Ware, J. L. Watson-Brown, E. Watts, T. G.

Wells, A. S. Wilkie, A. D. Wilson, J. H.

Wolahan, K. Wood, J. P.

Zappia, A.

NOES

Birrell, S. J. Boyce, C. E. Buchholz, S. (Teller)

Chester, D. J. Conaghan, P. J. Coulton, M. M. (Teller)

Gillespie, D. A. Goodenough, I. R.

Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Hogan, K. J. Howarth, L. R.

Joyce, B. T. G.

Landry, M. L. Littleproud, D.

McCormack, M. F.

O'Brien, L. S.

Pasin, A. Pike, H. J. Pitt, K. J.

Wallace, A. B. Webster, A. E. Willcox, A. J. Wilson, R. J.

Young, T. J.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The third reading having been agreed to the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

PHOTOVOICE: Clarence Valley people with disability are invited to take part in a photography project, designed to capture their experience of the world and give others more understanding of living with disability

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 29 May 2023:

Artist’s Statement “Gaslit” You’re being too sensitive… Get over it… C’mon its not that bad… Harden up… The world doesn’t revolve around you… Some things are not as obvious as a ramp or cane. I suffer in silence and sit in shame. Noises razor sharp and I struggle to breathe. Someone just listen to me please.

Clarence Valley people with disability are invited to take part in a photography project, designed to capture their experience of the world and give others more understanding of living with disability.

Photovoice is a five-week photography workshop-project led by not-for-profit organisation, Social Futures – an NDIS partner in the community.

Social Futures Capacity Building and Engagement Manager Lynda Hope describes Photovoice as a form of photographic storytelling.

“Photovoice explores the concept of ‘disability pride’ and each week participants take a photo connected to a theme that helps them express how they feel. The topics the group will discuss include ‘I love being me because…’, ‘inclusion’, ‘courage’ and ‘pride’,” Ms Hope said.

“Photovoice will be run online, so all participants need is a smart phone or a camera, and the Zoom video chat app….

You can learn more about Photovoice by watching this video on the Social Futures website: https://socialfutures.org.au/service/photovoice-share-the-world-through-your-eyes/....

If you are aged 18 years or older and interested in being part of Photovoice – Disability Pride groups with Social Futures, call 1800 522 679 or email lac@socialfutures.org.au

So this Australian Winter was expected to be drier and warmer than the median mark, but now it seems twice as likely a rainfall suppressing El Niño event will also start this year

During the multi-year Millennium Drought from 1997 to 2010, south east Australia experienced its lowest 13-year rainfall record since 1865 over the years 2006 to 2010.

Temperatures were also much hotter than in previous droughts and temperature extremes peaked during the heatwave and bushfires in early 2009. This culminated in the loss of 374 lives in Victoria and many more over the larger southeast in the heatwave leading up to Black Saturday. There were 173 lives lost in the fires.

The years 2015 to 2016 saw El Niño combined with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole in the second half of 2015 further suppressing rainfall, so that rainfall was the equal fourth-lowest on record for Australia during September, Tasmania had its driest Spring on record and mean temperatures were also highest on record for October to December 2015. This El Niño also contributed to an early start to the 2015-16 southern fire season.

By 2017 Australia was again in the grips of a multi-year drought. Very dry conditions in the cool season were followed by only a limited recovery in the October–December period in 2017 and 2018. This meant record-low rainfalls over various multi-year periods.

By June 2018 more than 99% of NSW was declared as affected by drought. The most extreme rainfall deficiencies over multi-year periods occurring in the northern half of New South Wales.

In June-July 2019 New South Wales began a trial by mega bushfires, as did other east coast states, that lasted through to January 2020.

Widespread drought was not an issue for the remainder of 2020 through to the present day, given La Niña visited three times in three years bringing high rainfall events and record floods in the eastern states.

However, the Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (ABARE) is now drawing attention to this:

All but one international climate model surveyed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology suggest sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific will exceed El Niño thresholds in June. [ABARES Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 25 May 2023] 

[ABARES, 25 May 2023] Click on image to enlarge

Suggesting in its climate update that there is now twice the risk of an El Niño event this year, with a likelihood of it making itself felt sometime between August and October.

The overall outlook for this Australian Winter continues to be below median rainfall and warmer median temperatures. 

The main urban centres in the Clarence Valley have a chance of unusually warm temperatures over the winter months of between est. 55-60% (Maclean-Yamba-Iluka) and 59-65% (Grafton). While elsewhere in the Northern Rivers region unusually warm temperatures are expected in Lismore with est. 58-59% chance, Tweed Heads est. 59-62% chance, with Byron Bay & Ballina at est. 60-61% chance. [BOM, Climate outlooks—weeks, months and seasons, June-September 2023]

How this developing scenario affects agricultural growing seasons over the next twelve months is anyone's guess.

In New South Wales only the parishes of Newbold and Braylesford in the Clarence Valley are showing Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) at “Drought Affected”. 

Nevertheless, root-zone soil moisture has been falling across north-east NSW so that by end of April 2023 it was very much below average in from the coast. 

Remembering that drought 'safety net' Shannon Creek Dam, which supplies urban town water to both Coffs Harbour City and Clarence Valley resident populations (total 134,538 persons, June 2022) is currently at 92.6% capacity or 27,677 megalitres, perhaps we may see increased water restrictions by the next Christmas-New Year period. Given the tourist-driven seasonal population rise increases water consumption and that 80% dam capacity is the increased restrictions trigger.

It doesn't take a genius to suspect that should a drought develop, the 2024 and 2025 bush fire seasons might also be highly problematic for rural and regional areas across Australia.