The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has today released a new report that shows Australia is at risk of becoming an Americanised society of working poor if people are not given a pay rise.

Key stats from the report include:

  • Inequality is greater than at any time in the last 70 years;
  • Income inequality is bad but wealth inequality is worse. The top ten richest Australians have over $77 billion dollars between them;
  • Number of workers on minimum award rates has shot up in the last few years – from 15.2% in 2010 to 23.9% in 2016;
  • Workers share of national income is at its lowest level in over 50 years.

The report, Rising Inequality: An Australian Reality, can be accessed here.

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