Australia raises real minimum wage 2% as NZ cuts its by 0.7%

Australia increases minimum wage by 3.5% to A$24.95 (NZ$26.90) in year of CPI inflation of around 2%, while NZ raises minimum wage 1.5% to NZ$23.50 in year of 2.2% inflation

Briefly, here’s my ‘Picks ‘n’ Mixes’ of news and other links¹ from Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, June 4 includes:

1. The gap widening in wages, unemployment rates, pension benefits and growth prospects was emphasised yesterday when Australia hiked its minimum wage by 1.5% more than inflation, while New Zealand’s real minimum wage fell 0.7% to be 13% below the Australian level. The Guardian. See more in politics & economy news below.

2. A Queensland council, Moreton Bay, has employed a recruiter in New Zealand to encourage New Zealand small businesses to emigrate to join 1,100 other New Zealand-born residents with small businesses there, along with 23,000 other Kiwis. See more in today’s Top Pick ‘n’ Mix Six below.

3. Christopher Luxon has accused a group of more than 20 global climate scientists who criticised his methane policy of being “worthies” who should be focused on other countries’ methane emissions. See more below in Politics news.

4. Nicola Willis has decided to set up a fiscal policy costings unit before the next election. See more below in Politics and in Environment news.

5. Over 30% of jobs at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet are being disestablished. See more below in Politics news.

6. Today’s must-read is a deep analysis of the crisis of politicians and voters celebrating ‘common sense’ over expertise by

   Dan Williams
   . See more in the Top Pick ‘n’ Mix Six below

My Top Pick ‘n’ Mix Six at 6am on Wednesday June 4