STATEMENT

Fair Work Act 2009
s.285—Annual wage reviews to be conducted

Annual Wage Review 2017–18
(C2018/1)

JUSTICE ROSS, PRESIDENT

MELBOURNE, 25 AUGUST 2017

VIEWS ON A PRELIMINARY HEARING — BUDGET STANDARDS RESEARCH

[1] On Friday 11 August 2017, a Statement was issued on the draft timetable for the Annual Wage Review 2017–18 that made reference to a project being undertaken which may provide data on contemporary budget standards. 1

[2] The Statement noted that ‘[i]n the event that these contemporary budget standards are published, the Panel will consider having a preliminary hearing on their outcomes. Interested parties will be informed of the Panel’s intentions in this regard.’ 2

[3] On Wednesday 23 August 2017 the anticipated report was published entitled ‘New Minimum Income for Healthy Living Budget Standards for Low-Paid and Unemployed Australians’ by Peter Saunders and Megan Bedford. A summary report was also published.

[4] Parties are invited to give consideration to this report and provide comment on the utility of holding a preliminary hearing to discuss the outcomes of this research. Parties that support a preliminary hearing are also asked to indicate the issues they propose be addressed at such a hearing.

[5] Submissions should be made by close of business Friday 8 September 2017 and can be filed electronically at awr@fwc.gov.au. Parties will have until close of business Friday 15 September to make submissions in reply.

[6] All submissions will be posted to the Commission’s website.

PRESIDENT

1 [2017] FWC 4441 at [2].

2 [2017] FWC 4441 at [3].

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