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Business Update (Issue 30)

By on December 3, 2006

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Tyre Safety DVD

Developing a better understanding of tyre safety is the focus of a DVD re-released by NSW DPI following a number of tyre-changing fatalities. The Tyre Safety DVD addresses some of the major hazards operators face in tyre management on large machinery. The DVD features presentations on tyre selection and explosions.

AS4457 Earthmoving machinery: Off-highway rims and wheels—maintenance and repair, released in 1997, is currently under review. The Working Group conducting the review has agreed to develop two parts to the review of AS4457—one to cover the maintenance and repair of wheels and rims and the second part for the maintenance and repair of tyres.

The Tyre Safety DVD is available for $20 from the NSW DPI on 02 4931 6666.

Australian Fair Pay Commission Announces Minimum Wage Increases

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.

Both increases flow on to junior employees, employees to whom training arrangements apply and employees with a disability and take effect from 1 December 2006.

The Commission’s next decision will be handed down in mid 2007. Professor Ian Harper, Chairman of the Australian Fair Pay Commission, said this decision was balanced and fair and provided a real increase for low paid workers.

Today’s decision takes into account:

  • The period of almost 18 months since the last pay increase for Pay Scale reliant workers;
  • The sensitivity of low-paid employment to changes in wage levels as well as the incentives for individuals to seek and remain in employment;
  • The fact that the economy and labour market have continued to perform strongly although not uniformly;
  • Movements in consumer prices;
  • The potential impact on unemployment and inflation

Lastly, and importantly, this decision takes into account the requirement to provide a safety net for low paid workers.

“The higher increase for workers earning less than $700 per week reflects findings in the Commission’s research and advice contained in submissions that lower-paid workers are more reliant on minimum wages,” Professor Harper said.

Detailed information on how this will apply to the pay scales will be available online soon.

To get the current rates for the Quarry Industry—Victoria Award visit: www.workchoices.gov.au

  • Pay and Conditions
  • Search award: ‘quarry’ and ‘transitional award’

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