Aged-care nurses get pay increase
Aged-care nurses have been told they will get a a fifth increase to award wages this year as the final stage of a Fair Work Commission decision.
The government said yesterday the increase in annual pay packets, from 1 August, would mean registered nurses in the sector on the most common pay level had seen their annual salary increase by more than $36,000.
An enrolled nurse on the most common level and pay point will have seen their wage increase by almost $32,000 per year.
The aged care minister, Sam Rae, said:
Better pay for nurses means better care for older Australians – our record boost to wages is making it easier for aged care homes to attract and retain nurses, ensuring older people can access higher-quality, more consistent care.
AAP reported the pay increases came after it had obtained internal departmental documents showing Australia “would need an extra 35,000 aged-care workers this financial year as the population aged and more people required support”.
Key events
‘Questions should be answered’ on corruption in construction
The deputy opposition leader, Jane Hume, has thrown her support behind a Victorian royal commission into corruption in the construction industry.
But she stopped short of calling for a federal royal commission.
She told ABC’s Insiders:
If you are serious about stamping out corruption in construction – which is causing costs for for construction to rise so fast and all Australians pay a price for that – why not start with a Senate inquiry?
Anthony Albanese has shown such extraordinary lack of curiosity, a lack of interested into extent of corruption on construction sites right around the country, particularly when there is federal, commonwealth, taxpayer money that’s been involved.
Even after knowing that there were at at least four allegations of corruption on the suburban rail loop site, Anthony Albanese committed $3.8 billion of commonwealth taxpayers’ money to that project.
And I think that there are questions that that should be answered about that.
Krishani Dhanji
Gosling doesn’t need to be stood down from special envoy role, says Butler
The health minister, Mark Butler, has rejected calls for the prime minister to stand down Luke Gosling, who has been charged with assault by police against the Northern Territory administrator.
Butler tells News 24 (formerly Sky) that the role of special envoy has no executive function, unlike a minister, who would be stood down if charged by police or subject to an investigation.
So what’s the point of the envoy role then, asks host, Andrew Clennell.
Butler says the special envoy job doesn’t actually have any function that would “impact Australians” – ie it’s mostly a ceremonial role. Labor aren’t the first to have special envoys. You might remember that Tony Abbott was appointed special envoy for Indigenous Australians by Scott Morrison in 2018, but Labor has seven, including Gosling.
Butler tells News 24:
It’s important to remember what the job of special envoy is. It’s not a ministerial position. It doesn’t have any executive authority, any ability to make decisions that impact Australians, of course, as you know, if he were a minister, he would be required to stand aside.
You’re not required to stand down as a member of parliament if you’re charged. Obviously, there are some provisions around conviction, but he is really just a backbench member of parliament. He is not a member of the executive, and that is a fundamental distinction in the separation of powers.
Liberal MP Jane Hume to appear on Insiders
The deputy leader of the opposition, Jane Hume, will appear on ABC’s Insiders after 9.
Luca Ittimani
Petrol prices set to rise as fuel excise relief ends
Drivers could soon pay more than $2 a litre for fuel and $2.40 for diesel after the government’s 16-cent discount ends at midnight.
The 32-cent per litre reduction in fuel excise, introduced in March at the peak of the fuel price spike, was halved to 16 cents in July.
The excise will return to its normal level on 3 August, adding 16 cents per litre to the wholesale prices paid by service stations.
Chris Bowen, the energy minister, told reporters on Saturday the government would not extend the temporary cost-of-living relief.
Obviously we always monitor the situation and take steps as necessary, but our policy decision is clear.
Aged-care nurses get pay increase
Aged-care nurses have been told they will get a a fifth increase to award wages this year as the final stage of a Fair Work Commission decision.
The government said yesterday the increase in annual pay packets, from 1 August, would mean registered nurses in the sector on the most common pay level had seen their annual salary increase by more than $36,000.
An enrolled nurse on the most common level and pay point will have seen their wage increase by almost $32,000 per year.
The aged care minister, Sam Rae, said:
Better pay for nurses means better care for older Australians – our record boost to wages is making it easier for aged care homes to attract and retain nurses, ensuring older people can access higher-quality, more consistent care.
AAP reported the pay increases came after it had obtained internal departmental documents showing Australia “would need an extra 35,000 aged-care workers this financial year as the population aged and more people required support”.
Good morning
Kat Wong
Good morning.
I’m Kat Wong, and I’ll be taking you through today’s news.
Australia is suspected to have experienced its first mass mortality event from the deadly strain of bird flu after more than 80 dead and sick birds were spotted off the coast of South Australia.
Meanwhile, Jamaica has upset Australia at the Commonwealth games after defeating the defending netball champions to reach the finals.
More coming up.
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