Western Australia’s inflation has added more pressure on the WA Government as public sector unions prepare to hold a strike over pay. 

Perth’s consumer price index rose 1.7 per cent in the June quarter, pushing the annual inflation rate well above the national average to 7.4 per cent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics also highlighted Perth’s rising cost of housing, fuel, household furnishings and medical services. The inflation is felt by citizens across the state as the cost of food and groceries, transport and clothing has risen in every capital city. 

Due to the inflation, health workers and other WA public servants are lobbying for a pay rise above the 2.75 per cent annual increase offered under the WA Government’s public sector wages policy. 

The workers state that their pay is going backwards given that the state has both the lowest wage growth and highest inflation rate of all states. 

As an alliance of public sector unions plans to strike on August 17 unless the WA Government improves its offer before then, CPSU/CSA secretary Rikki Hendon said the government was out of touch with the pressures facing workers and their families. 

“CPI is the best read we have on how much everyday costs are rising, and the government ignores it at their peril,” she said. 

“They’re essentially saying ‘we’re happy for you to work hard for this state, run our critical community services, work through a pandemic, but continue to fall further and further behind at home’.” 

The WA Government in May banked a $5.7 billion budget surplus, which included a one-off $400 electricity credit for every household. While the surplus was welcomed by citizens, Unions WA secretary Owen Whittle said that more needed to be done to effectively support those who are in need. 

“Cuts to public sector pay mean cuts to public services as our schools, hospitals, police and other services struggle to fill vacancies and retain skilled staff,” he said. 

In recent weeks, healthcare workers have held stop-work meetings outside Perth hospitals in a bid to ramp up pressure on the WA Government. 

The alliance of public sector workers are also said to include unions representing police officers, firefighters, prison guards and child protection workers. Meanwhile, teachers and public hospital doctors have recently voted to accept a 2.75 per cent pay increase. 

WA Premier Mark McGowan has maintained that the government will bargain in good faith around the existing wages policy. 

Opposition treasury spokesman Steve Thomas said the premier would “have to justify” the wages stance given the state’s strong financial position. 

 With AAP

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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