With Wednesday's announcement the minimum wage would go up another $1.20 next year, the usual arguments for and against it were trotted out.



"With our economy doing well, we want to make sure that our lowest-paid workers also benefit," said Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway, talking up the move to $18.90 from April 1.

While E tu union spokesperson Annie Newman called it a "really good start" that would make a "big difference" to those struggling on the breadline.

"We've got a member here who's a security guard and she works about 70 hours a week to feed her family. When she gets that increase, she can look to cutting back on a few hours."