1 week ago
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The news
Thousands of Queensland’s lowest paid public sector workers will see a pay rise of up to 3.5 per cent from this month, after the industrial relations umpire delivered its annual state wage case decision.
The figure – in line with the federal decision – was sought by unions as part of the annual Industrial Relations Commission work, with the government seeking only a “fair and reasonable” increase.
Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King.Credit: Cameron Atfield
“A 3.5 per cent increase will help address the ongoing impact of cost of living increases in recent years for low paid workers,” Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King said.
Why it matters
While technically a lift to awards largely used for staff of First Nations councils, Parents and Citizens Associations and auxiliary firefighters, some will also flow to workers in health and education.
This is because a range of the collective agreements much of the public sector negotiate with the state include clauses to ensure their wages will not be below those set in the relevant award.
While minor in the scheme of the government’s $37.9 billion wage bill in the 2025-26 budget, submissions on behalf of the government noted extra costs would “put pressure” on service delivery.
It comes as the state works to strike deals with large swathes of its workforce including teachers, nurses and midwives – which had taken up industrial action – featuring only a 3 per cent 2025 pay bump.
What they said
“Queensland Unions welcomes the decision of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to flow on the 3.5 per cent wage rise determined in this year’s federal Annual Wage Review,” King said.
“This decision will directly benefit Queensland public sector and local government employees who are currently not covered by a collective enterprise agreement including ... employees of parents and citizens associations such as staff in out of school and vacation care.
“It will also flow onto any Queensland public sector employees whose current agreement rate is less than the new award rate – such as low paid operational staff who work in ambulance, health, education, and child safety.”
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Another perspective
The government, through Under Treasurer Dennis Molloy, submitted a 3.5 per cent lift could add $66 million to this year’s state wages bill, and cumulatively create “potential fiscal impacts in future”.
“An increase in government expenses arising from these decisions places pressure on a government’s ability to deliver further services in other areas and still achieve its fiscal objectives.”
But the state did acknowledge the flow-on of award increases to some workers under agreements was “unavoidable in order to ensure that workers who do not benefit from collective bargaining or the state’s public sector wages policy receive a fair and reasonable increase”.
Comment was sought from the government and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie.
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