During an interview on national television, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has botched his explanation of a $1 per hour pay raise for the country’s lowest-paid employees.
Mr Albanese accidentally suggested today that the pay rise is worth $1 per week after being stung by accusations he stumbled over economic data in the early days of his campaign.
“Clear this up for us: Will you put a submission to the Fair Work Commission asking for a 5.1 per cent increase?’’ host David Speers asked.
“We will put a submission to the Fair Work Commission. They will take submissions until 7 June, and that submission will say people who are on the minimum wage can’t afford to go backwards,’’ Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese then held a $1 coin in the air and claimed that’s how much people would get if the pay raise that unions are demanding goes through.
“We are talking about a $1 a week increase for people who earn $20.33 an hour,’’ he said.
In fact, the wage increase is $1 per hour, not $1 per week. The Labor leader was subsequently cut off by host David Speers.
“OK. And just to clear up – I think you said a dollar a week. It’s a dollar an hour,’’ Speers said.
“A dollar an hour,’’ Mr Albanese said, correcting his earlier comments.