Minimum wage earners: ‘It’s absolutely outrageous that politicians are squabbling over a $1 pay rise’

Working mothers say cost of living pressures mean a 5.1% wage rise in line with inflation is the bare minimum they need

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Once a week, Melanie Kent places leftover money from her grocery shopping into an envelope to go towards a family trip at the end of the year. It used to be topped up by a healthy $30 a week, giving the kids something to look forward to.

Nowadays, she says she is lucky if she can spare $5.

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