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Key events

Chalmers says minimum wage workers deserve a ‘decent real increase’

Jim Chalmers starts on the ABC’s News Breakfast and says that workers deserve a “real” wage rise ahead of the Fair Work Commission’s decision on the next minimum wage increase. A real wage rise means a rise above the rate of inflation.

But the government won’t – and previously hasn’t – specified a number. The treasurer says that’s for “good reason”, but that Labor has “made our views clear on this occasion, as we have on other occasions”.

Workers on the minimum wage and on awards need and deserve a decent real increase today.

We’ve made that very clear [that] higher wages and lower taxes are the best way to help working people with the cost of living by making sure that people are earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

The increase will come into effect on 1 July. The Australian Council of Trade Unions has been pushing for a 6% wage rise.

Krishani Dhanji

Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.

Ahead of today’s minimum wage announcement, the treasurer is doing the media rounds, making his way through the press gallery. The government is still on the budget sell, after some mixed reviews (to say the least) about the capital gains tax changes.

And there will be plenty on in estimates – we’ll be keeping a close eye on that.

Let’s get stuck in!

Greens to question US use of Australian naval base

Speaking of Aukus, Australian Associated Press reports that defence officials will be scrutinised today over how the US is designating a key Australian naval base for the Aukus pact.

The Greens are expected to use Senate estimates today to press officials and the Albanese government about HMAS Stirling in Western Australia being classed as a US shore installation.

A US government procurement site has since April referred to the base as “Naval Support Activity Stirling”.

Bases located in the US and across the world are referred to as being used as part of “naval support activity”. What that actually means is unknown.

The Greens’ defence spokesperson, David Shoebridge, will also grill officials about how taxpayers will pay for infrastructure, in addition to an announcement Australia will no longer buy new nuclear-powered submarines from the US.

Peter Garrett is going to head an independent, community-funded inquiry into the Aukus submarine pact.

He’s told the ABC this morning he wants to “give Australians the opportunity to ask the questions that haven’t been answered up to now about this extraordinary deal”.

He says:

This was the most significant, and by far the most costly decision made in secret by an Australian government, tying us to two other sovereign governments, and taking out an extraordinary amount of taxpayers’ money on a proposition which has got a lot of distinct and very difficult complexities and potential problems lying up ahead.

Read our full story here:

Australia’s ebola screening measures sufficient and border closures not needed: health department

Luca Ittimani

Australia is screening overseas arrivals for Ebola and does not need to close its borders as the disease’s outbreak worsens in central Africa, the health department says

Canada has suspended immigration procedures for those travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and required anyone arriving from countries with Ebola cases to quarantine for three weeks. The US has also issued limits.

Australia has not brought in such measures. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said on Monday:

Australia has strong border health measures to screen for people who may be symptomatic with very serious communicable diseases like Ebola disease.

We do not need to close Australia’s borders to safely manage the current risk, which remains low for Australia.

We are aware of measures taken by some other countries, and we decide on the measures most appropriate for Australia based on Australia’s circumstances.

The spokesperson said the government had put up signs at Australian airports for arrivals from DRC or Uganda, with a QR code that provides information on symptoms and what to do if they develop. They said:

Anyone who has signs or symptoms on arrival will be identified by the existing screening measures.

The department and the Australian Centre for Disease Control are monitoring the global situation and will work with border agencies to implement additional measures if the assessed risk changes.

Minimum wage increase to be announced today

Luca Ittimani

The Fair Work Commission will this morning hand down its decision on how far to raise minimum and award wages from July.

Business groups have called for increases of up to 3.9%. The peak small business body has called for a temporary wage freeze, with increases to come only in December.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has suggested there should be no increase at all this year.

The Albanese government has called for a “sustainable real wage increase”. It has declined to specify how big the increase should be, or even what inflation measure or what period of time it wants the Commission to consider.

The Reserve Bank expects headline inflation to hit 4.8% by the end of June and underlying inflation to hit 3.8%.

Trade unions are calling for a 6% increase for 3 million of Australia’s lowest paid workers, arguing pay should rise faster than inflation.

It is not clear where the wage panel is leaning, though one of its members has implied a 6% increase would stoke inflation.

The decision will be announced from 10am.

One Nation ‘not our enemy but an opponent’, Liberal senator says

Nino Bucci

James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, says that One Nation’s “increased prominence” should bring “increased scrutiny”, brushing off suggestions from new party president Tony Abbott that the Liberals should not fight with parties to their political right.

Paterson told the ABC on Monday night:

One Nation are not our enemy but they are a political opponent, they are trying to take votes and seats off the Liberal party.

Their increased prominence in the polls brings increased legitimate scrutiny on their performance, on their policies, on their candidates, on their conduct.

Paterson went on to quote a story from The Australian that reported One Nation’s leader, Pauline Hanson, missed 88% of Senate estimates hearings in the past decade.

When asked directly by comments from Abbott that suggested the Liberals should not fight with One Nation, Paterson responded:

It’s up to the parliamentary party to chart our own course, and I’m very clear about our role in this.

It’s not really his role as party president, it’s an organisational role, his role is to rally the troops, to raise money, to get the campaign organisations fighting fit, I’m very pleased he’s put his hand up for that role, he’ll be outstanding in it.