Progressive Bishop Backs Minimum Wage Increase

Bishop Vincent Long Has Backed The Australian Government's Minimum Wage Increase.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

Chair of the Australian Bishops' Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, The Most Reverend Vincent Long OFM, has lauded the Australian Government for increasing the minimum wage to $20.33 per hour.

Bishop Long, Photo: Diocese of Parramatta

"It is important to remember that many people who are in full-time employment [and who] work hard, still struggle to provide for their families." Bishop Long said.

With the Catholic Church employing more than 220,000 people in Australia, Bishop Long argues that the Church has an important role in this debate.

Through the Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations (ACCER), the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference had made submissions to the Australian Fair Work Commission, calling for a 4% increase to wages.

The Fair Work Commission disagreed with ACCER's views and only raised the minimum wage by 2.5%.

"ACCER will be back next year to advocate for minimum wage workers to receive fair and reasonable wages that provide a safety net from poverty." Bishop Long, who is also the Bishop of Parramatta, said.