2006 Decision
On 26 October 2006, the AFPC handed down its first decision. The AFPC's media release stated:
The Australian Fair Pay Commission today announced an increase of $27.36 per week in the standard Federal Minimum Wage and in all Pay Scales up to $700 per week. This covers just over one million Australian workers who rely on the Commission’s decisions for adjustments in their wages. The Commission also awarded an increase of $22.04 per week to all Pay Scales paying $700 per week and above, or more than $36,000 per year, representing another 220,000 workers, about 2% of the workforce.
In hourly terms, the Australian federal minimum wage will increase to $13.47 per hour (for workers on pay scales of less than $700 per week). The decision took effect on 1 December 2006.
Many commentators were surprised that the AFPC's first decision was so large. For example, the Australian Council of Trade Unions had asked for a minimum wage increase of $30 per week. Despite this, the rise barely kept up with inflation since the previous pay rise handed down by the AIRC in June 2005.
Read more about this topic: Australian Fair Pay Commission
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