The Western Australia (WA) Labor government has announced a pay rise for over 17,000 education assistants, cleaners, and gardeners, primarily employed by the Department of Education.
Workers covered by two industrial agreements negotiated with the United Workers Union will see pay increases of $65 (US$42) per week starting in January 2025 and again in 2026.
For education assistants, this equates to wage increases ranging from 5.09 percent to 6.5 percent in the first year and 4.84 percent to 6.11 percent in the second year.
Additional benefits include incentives for employees in regional areas like the South West, Great Southern, and Wheatbelt, along with the availability of pro rata long service leave after seven years of continuous service.
Wider Public Sector Agreements Finalised
The Cook Labor government has now settled industrial agreements covering over 107,000 public sector workers under the Public Sector Wages Policy Statement 2023.This includes WA teachers, doctors, TAFE lecturers, transit officers, hospital support staff, and public servants.
On Sept. 30, public servants in Western Australia received a 12.5 percent pay increase spread over three years, along with improved employment conditions. These agreements, negotiated under the state government’s Wages Policy, cover over 85,000 public sector employees.
Earlier this year, WA politicians and public servants also received pay increases. The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal granted a 4 percent salary increase alongside a $1,000 motor vehicle allowance for members of Parliament.
This raised the base salary for backbenchers to $173,393 annually, while Premier Roger Cook’s pay rose to $392,584.
Previously, WA MPs had some of the lowest salaries among Australian states, as the former McGowan government froze their pay for four years to manage the state’s budget deficit.
Opposition Criticises Government Spending
As WA gears up for an election in early 2025, Opposition Leader Libby Mettam has criticised the Labor government for not addressing the cost-of-living crisis effectively.“If elected, the Liberals will prioritise cost-of-living measures, reduce wasteful spending, and restore funding to charities that assist those in need,” she said.
She promised tax cuts and measures to promote homeownership, emphasising the party’s commitment to responsible economic management.
“We won’t be signing blank cheques for projects that don’t stack up,” she added.
The opposition also outlined plans to fix WA’s health system, restore law and order, provide meaningful cost-of-living relief, and deliver more housing to meet community demands.
