The State Government has outlined its updated State wages offer which will result in WA's lowest paid workers receiving the biggest benefits to assist with cost of living pressures.
Under the revised offer, public sector workers will receive an increase in salaries of at least $60 per week, or $3,120 per year for two years (with payments provided on a pro-rata basis for part-time and casual workers).
This means, for example, a worker with an annual salary of $50,000 will receive a 6.2 per cent increase per annum for two years to their base salary.
Those with an annual salary of more than $104,000, will receive a three per cent increase per annum for two years to their base salary, equating to at least $3,120 per year.
In addition, all public sector workers will receive an increased one-off $3,000 cost of living payment (with payments on a pro-rata basis for part-time and casual workers) where an agreement has been reached.
Western Australian public sector workers will also benefit from the 0.5 per cent superannuation guarantee increase per annum, on top of the annual wage increase.
The improved increases will be applied to workers covered by industrial agreements that have already been accepted, including teachers, doctors and transit guards. These workers will have the increased percentage applied, as appropriate, to their current agreements and have the $3,000 cost of living payment paid shortly.
The improved offer for the more than 150,000 public sector workers is expected to cost $789 million over the next four years, with the shift away from the previous $1,000 wages policy costing more than $3.3 billion.
The improved offer is affordable and only possible because of the McGowan Government's responsible and strong financial management, and comes as the State anticipates a stronger than expected net operating surplus as part of the audited 2021-22 annual financial figures to be finalised soon.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Looking after WA's lowest paid workers has always been my priority and this improved offer delivers on this giving low paid workers the bigger increases to assist with cost of living pressures.
"The improved offer includes an increased one-off cost of living payment of $3,000, which will come on top of the increased base salary.
"We've continued to negotiate in good faith and the improved wages offer is reasonable, responsible, and achievable because of the State's strong financial management.
"Western Australia's economy has continued to deliver positive outcomes, and this means we can deliver this improved policy.
"Our strong economy has resulted in WA achieving better than expected financial returns, with the final 2021-22 audited annual figures to be released later this month."
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
"The McGowan Government continues to listen to workers and unions during the latest round of bargaining agreements.
"All our public sector workers provide vital services to our community and deserve this enhanced offer.
"Unions which have already accepted a previous offer will not miss out, as this new offer will apply to their industrial agreements."
