Last night’s Budget – what’s it mean for workers?

Last night, the Albanese Government handed down their Budget for 2023. So what does this mean for workers?

In a nutshell, what the Budget contains is a good start for workers – but there’s more work to do. Here are some highlights:

Cost of Living

This budget continues the huge task of fixing a decade of neglect and failure from the previous Coalition Government. And in a welcomed move, the Albanese Government has taken another step towards delivering on its mandate to get wages moving for working people and to provide cost-of-living relief.

Unions support the important measures to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, including energy bill rebates, more affordable childcare, cheaper medicines and the historic investment in Medicare that expands access to free healthcare.

National Net Zero Authority

The Federal Government will establish a new National Net Zero Authority to support workers and their communities and to deliver a just transition to a net zero emissions economy.

This victory marks the culmination of more than a decade of campaigning from the union movement – including thousands of Australians who added their name to our campaign so that no worker or community is left behind.

15% Pay Rise for Aged Care workers

Union win here! The Budget committed the funding needed for aged workers to have a 15 per cent wage increase.

This pay rise will help aged care providers retain their skilled workforce, attract more people to the sector and stop paying high agency rates to fill the current gaps. It is a step forward in recognising just how critical care work is in our lives.

This is also a win for women (who make up the majority of aged care workers). Unions will keep campaigning to deliver wage rises in other industries (like early childhood education and care) and make sure more is done to properly value women’s work, including paying super on paid parental leave.

Super on Pay Day

From 1 July 2026. your superannuation is to be paid on the same day as wages (instead of quarterly).

What does that mean? It’ll be much easer to check you’re being paid the correct amount (like wage theft, failure to pay superannuation is rife: In total, employers fail to pay up to $5 billion in super to workers each year in Australia).

Paying superannuation at the same time as wages is a long overdue measure – that was pushed for by unions! – that will make it easier for workers to ensure they’re getting paid what they’re owed.

Where to next?

This Budget is a good start for workers – but there’s more work to do.

The cost of living crisis is far from over and Australians are suffering real consequences because of it.

Union members are sending the message: Workers need a pay rise.