Dutton stops short of backing wage rise above inflation for lowest paid workers

Anthony Albanese puts pressure on opposition leader after Labor’s submission to Fair Work Commission supports rise to keep up with inflation

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Peter Dutton says he supports higher wages for 2.9 million low-paid workers but has stopped short of backing a pay bump higher than inflation as he blames Anthony Albanese for the cost-of-living pressure on households.

Switching his election campaign focus from health to wages, the prime minister, on Wednesday, called for an above-inflation pay rise for workers on the minimum wage and award.

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