Today I was invited onto 891 ABC Adelaide to discuss Basic Income Australia’s response to the Fair Work Commission’s ruling to increase the minimum wage by 5.97 per cent and grant award workers a 4.75 per cent pay boost.
Basic Income Australia welcomes the wage increase above inflation, and furthermore I discussed how:
• A Universal Basic Income (UBI) can help meet the needs of those who aren’t employed and don’t benefit from wage increases, but suffer from below-poverty JobSeeker payments.
• Small businesses also benefit from a Universal Basic Income, as it functions as basic capital for business owners and puts income in the hands of people to spend into the local economy.
• UBI can support unions in building worker bargaining power by functioning as a universal strike fund and giving workers economic freedom to say no to poor pay and conditions.
The recording starts at approximately 5m35s – many thanks to 891 ABC Adelaide for having me on again.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/adelaide-afternoons/afternoons/106740086
Guaranteeing Economic Security 