MA welcomes government's pay contribution to sector

MA Media Release, 10 November 2011

Mission Australia has welcomed today’s announcement by the Australian Government to contribute more than $2 billion to help deliver a pay rise to low-paid community service workers.

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said the Australian Government had “stepped up to the plate” in making the announcement and that it was a “significant contribution” towards helping community organisations manage the cost of paying higher wages for employees that will result from the equal pay case currently before Fair Work Australia.

“The Australian Government has shown real leadership with this announcement and we warmly welcome it,” said Mr Hall. “We look forward to reading the details of the government’s planned submission to Fair Work Australia.

"Mission Australia supports equal pay for equal work in the community services sector. We believe that existing award rates undervalue the importance of the community service sector’s efforts.

“So much so that Mission Australia’s own agreement with its community service staff provides for pay rates in advance of those in the award. In our submission to Fair Work Australia, we identified that the outcome of the case may have significant impacts – for everyone in the sector but particularly staff and clients.

“This is a view shared across the sector. One need only read the submissions of other organisations such as Anglicare Sydney and National Disability Services to see that is the case.

“That’s why Mission Australia has supported the ACOSS campaign calling on Federal and State/Territory Governments to commit to fully funding any changes in pay and conditions that result from the case.

“Now that the Australian Government has stepped up to the plate by making this significant contribution, it’s up to the states and territories to make their positions clear and pay their share.

“We want to avoid a situation where some of Australia’s most vulnerable miss out on the services they need because charities can no longer afford them," said Mr Hall.