Happy Friday! Almost 2.75 million Australians will receive a pay rise of 5.75% from 1 July after the Fair Work Commission announced its decision for those on minimum and award wages.
The annual wage review decision, released today, indicates the minimum wages will increase to $882.80 per week or $23.23 per hour. For some workers on the lowest award rate, the rise will be 8.6%.
The increase is about midway between the 3.8% some business groups such as AiGroup called for, and the 7% sought by the ACTU.
“It is a critical increase during this cost of living crisis,” Sally McManus, secretary of the ACTU, said.
Top news
Ben Roberts-Smith resigns from Seven | The former soldier has resigned from Seven West Media a day after a judge dismissed his defamation action against three newspapers who he found had proven in their defence that Roberts-Smith murdered unarmed civilians while serving in the military in Afghanistan.
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Minister may change Hecs debt pile-on | The education minister, Jason Clare, says there could be merit in changing how Hecs interest is calculated after thousands of current and former students woke up to higher debt. Clare has ordered the team conducting a review into education reform to look at the issue.
State of Origin throat injury | The New South Wales women’s State of Origin side is fuming after match officials allowed play to continue following a serious throat injury that hospitalised co-captain Isabelle Kelly in Thursday’s series opener. Kelly has been cleared of a throat fracture but remained in hospital on Friday morning.
Taiwan and US sign trade deal | The United States and Taiwan have signed a trade deal aimed at deepening economic relations between both sides – in a move that has sparked a warning from Beijing. Taiwan’s government has described the deal as “the most comprehensive” trade agreement signed with Washington since 1979.
US AI drone killed its operator | In a simulated test staged by the US military, an air force drone controlled by AI killed its operator to prevent it from interfering with its efforts to achieve its mission, an official said last month.
Fox News edits Trump | Fox News hosted a town hall event in Iowa with Donald Trump on Thursday night, but the pre-taped hour-long prime-time special hosted by Sean Hannity excluded any mention of Trump’s conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
US fines British Airways | British Airways has been fined US$1.1m by the US over claims it failed to pay refunds for cancelled flights during the coronavirus pandemic. The US Transportation Department said in a legal document the airline did not “provide timely refunds to passengers” for abandoned or rescheduled flights to and from the country in 2020.
Jordan’s royal wedding | Jordan’s monarchy has cemented the role of its 28-year-old crown prince with a wedding attended by global royalty, including Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales, in a glittering show seeking to buttress the succession and move on from a painful family scandal.
Full Story
Australia’s most decorated living soldier has lost his defamation case against the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the Canberra Times. A federal court judge has found that the newspapers proved in their defence that Ben Roberts-Smith either murdered or was complicit in and responsible for the murder of unarmed civilians while serving in the Australian military in Afghanistan.
Ben Doherty reports from court, sifting through the judge’s ruling and what it means for public interest journalism.
What they said …
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“The best decision for workers we’ve ever had” – minister for employment and workplace relations, Tony Burke.
Burke was commenting on the annual wage review’s decision to boost the minimum wage by 5.75%.
Before bed read
Whether you’re a cat lover or staunch dog person, we’ve got a story for each camp to help understand the behaviours of their pets.
Lili Chin has broken down the 13 secret signals cat owners need to know – from a quivering tale to aeroplane ears.
Meanwhile, Susan Hazel and Joshua Zoanetti have answered a question that may have long intrigued dog and cat lovers alike: Why do dogs eat grass? And is it safe?
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: INTI. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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