Interim CEO NTCOSS Claire Pirrett on minimum wage increase and cost of living report

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In some news yesterday that you may have missed or
you may have heard nationally, we know that millions of
workers across Australia are going to get a pay rights
after the Fair Work Commission raise the modern award wage
above the rate of inflation. The decision means the national
minimum wage is going to increase from twenty four dollars
ninety five to twenty six dollars forty four per hour.

(00:22):
It's going to be the first time the national minimum
wage will be above one thousand dollars per week. Now,
joining us on the line this morning from Alice Springs
is the interim CEO of the NT Council of Social Services,
Claire Pirrot. Good morning to you, Claire.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Good morning, Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Im lovely to have you on the show. Now, Claire
tell us a Fair Work decision was welcome news for
those people working for the minimum wage.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
I guess well, that's right. So today the Anti Council
of Social Service have released its Cost of Living in
the Northern Territory report and what that show is that
across the territory, territories are experiencing increases in the cost
of living and that's increases to the costing cost of
housing and transport and utilities, and so the Fair Work

(01:12):
Commission's decision will help to ease those pressures on low
paid workers to cover the basics such as rent, food
and transport. But there are those who will not be
captured by that increase, those who are on income support
payments and so, and that's where the cost of living
is really felt the most.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, I mean talk us through that a little bit
more in the Northern Territory context, like how big a
difference will it actually make.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Oh, look, we know in the territory and that those
on award wages and some of the lowest paid workers
in the territory, lots of part time workers and casual workers,
will be captured those in wage increases. But in terms

(02:00):
of having a big impact on those who are experiencing
poverty in the NT, I don't think it's going to
have a huge impact because wages, real wages have not
kept up with the increasing costs, and we know those
who are on the lowest incomes will not feel the
benefit of those increases and will continue to be really

(02:21):
impacted by the cost of living.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
You touched on the int cost report that has been
released today as well. That shows Territorians a hit harder
than the majority of the country by those rising costs
of living. What are the biggest factors?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, I mean Territorians across the board I think will
be experiencing the increase of cost of living. But we
know that there's been some significant increases in the last
twelve months. And so those in Darwin in December, we're
paying one hundred and forty nine dollars for a tank
of petrol. In April are paying two hundred and thirty
six dollars for a tank of petrol. We've got the

(02:58):
second highest rents in the country. Housing is in the
rental market is unaffordable for those on income support payments.
And we know that everyone's experiencing an increase in the
cost of their power bills, but those on pre payment
meters are experiencing that even more because we've seen a
significant increase in the number of involuntary disconnections for those

(03:20):
using pre payment meters.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
I know that you know you again you touched on
these those rents, and you know the cost of housing
is it more so like is it the rent availability
or is it the housing stock? You think? And it's
having the biggest impact or is it sort of a combination.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
Of boat I think you're exactly right. I think it's
a combination. So the rental market is extremely tight and
very expensive, which means it's unaffordable for many people. That
means we really need a robust social we need robust
social housing, and we just do not have enough social
housing in the Northern Territory. You know, it's about one

(04:01):
person on the list for many there's many people on
the list and very few houses I think two hundred
and thirty six available on thousands of thousands of people
looking for a social housing and so and then there's
the availability of houses to buy as well. So I
think it's a it's all of those things are having

(04:22):
an impact together.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
It's tough, and you know, like you touched on a
moment ago as well, even the petrol prices and then
the impact that that has on you know, on your
cost of food and groceries, like it can be really tough.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
It can, and we know that that everybody is feeling
that in the NT is feeling that. But absolutely it
is those on the lowest incomes who are hit the hardest.
And so while the fair work Commission's decision will help
ease the pressures on low paid workers to cover some
of the basics, far more government action is needed to
assist people who are doing it the toughest.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
Well, Claire, I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank
you very much much for having a chat with us
and talking about the way in which this is impacting territories,
but also you know the cost of living and the
way that that is having a big impact in so
many ways.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
That's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
Thank you so much.