$1b towards wage rise community workers

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay has welcomed the announcement that the State Government will contribute $1 billion to fund pay rises for 27,000 low paid social and community services workers.
“The pay for workers in the non-government sector who work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community has been pitifully low and unsustainable,” he said.
“It’s pleasing to see the State step up to the plate and honour the Fair Work Australia decision to award these workers a pay rise of between 23 to 45 per cent over the next 10 years.”
The increased wages will begin to be rolled out from December 1, with workers receiving an average $20 a week pay increase.
In February, Fair Work Australia handed down its decision to award equal pay for those in the social and community services sector, with the commonwealth pledging $2.8 billion nationally to the increase.
Those employed by 1400 non-government organisations such as the House with No Steps, the Salvation Army and Mission Australia, will benefit from the decision.