Australian Politics Forum - Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You

aquascoot

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #15 - Sep 30^th, 2026 at 6:17pm

Employees are generally entitled to at least the applicable minimum wage under Australian workplace law.
Business owners, sole traders, partners and many farmers are effectively remunerated through the business's profit rather than an hourly wage. If the business makes little or no profit, the owner's effective return for their labour can therefore be below the minimum wage — even zero or negative after accounting for the value of their work and capital.
Agriculture has a particularly large amount of owner-operator and unpaid family labour. ABARES notes that agriculture has a higher proportion of owner-operators and unpaid family workers than many other industries. �
Dept of Ag, Fisheries & Forestry +1
The government even has a Farm Household Allowance for commercial farmers experiencing financial hardship; as of August 2026, about 3,700 farmers and partners were still receiving assistance. �

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Gnads Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 34316 Gender:	Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You Reply #16 - Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:11pm tallowood wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 10:53am: If you feel underplayed you can start your own business and pay yourself what you think is right. Yeah nah - that's just bs.
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Gnads Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 34316 Gender:	Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You Reply #17 - Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:12pm UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:27pm: Or get another job. You've had plenty - of 5 minute appearances. Don't want to affect the dole payments with too many hours.
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Gnads

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #18 - Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:14pm

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:45pm:

It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk.

It all worked for the best ey?

I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility.

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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Jasin

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #19 - Sep 30^th, 2026 at 8:48pm

whiteknight wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 12:35pm:

If you feel you are underpaid, ask your union. Or get in touch with the fair work ombudsman. Sad

Like I said. You Lefties here want your pre-Trump Americanisms (Media) here running the Show in our Politics via your ALP, Greens, Teals & One Nation.
....but nooooo. You don't want the American wage system of low pays.

Quite frankly. If you Lefties want to work on behalf of America as it rules our Political way here.
Then take a pay cut ✂️! As you deserve to have it.

Now answer that one WhiteKnight Wink

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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aquascoot

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #20 - Oct 1^st, 2026 at 5:44am

Small business / sole traders: ABS data for 2022–23 shows median own unincorporated business income of just $11,751 per year. The mean was $28,484. This is business income, not an hourly wage, and many owners take their income directly from business profits. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics +1
Farmers/agriculture: ABS reported median employment income of $37,568 for people whose main job was in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2022–23. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Hours: Owner-managers had a median working week of around 45 hours, while crop farmers averaged about 51 hours a week.
Farm profitability is volatile: ABS reported that agriculture, forestry and fishing earnings fell 35.4% in 2023–24. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics
In plain terms: Australian small-business owners can have relatively low personal business income despite working long hours, while farmers' incomes can fluctuate substantially from year to year. The ABS figures don't directly calculate an hourly wage, but they provide the income and hours needed to demonstrate how an owner's effective hourly return can fall well below the minimum wage.

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #21 - Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:46am

Gnads wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:14pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:45pm:

It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk.

It all worked for the best ey?

I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility.

Oh, trust me. I would not want to look after your geriatric ass either. But if that job was the only one available, I would have to work in aged care.

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There are no rules here. Welcome to the slaughterhouse.

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #22 - Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:52am

Gnads wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:12pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:27pm:

Or get another job.

You've had plenty - of 5 minute appearances.

Don't want to affect the dole payments with too many hours.

Nah. I just caught up in what my job network member referred to as being "comfortably uncomfortable". Or was the "uncomfortably comfortable"? That is what happens when your expenses are low, and you only have to do (nearly) free courses, declare job searchs, and get income tested.

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

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Gnads

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #23 - Oct 1^st, 2026 at 10:04am

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:46am:

Gnads wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:14pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:45pm:

It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk.

It all worked for the best ey?

I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility.

Oh, trust me. I would not want to look after your geriatric ass either. But if that job was the only one available, I would have to work in aged care.

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #24 - Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 11:46am

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:52am:

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week.

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Gnads

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #25 - Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 6:47pm

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 11:46am:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:52am:

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week.

You pay for SFA for anything else - you're doing alright on the tax payer dime.

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Underpaying Workers, We Are Coming For You
Reply #26 - Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 10:34pm

Gnads wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 6:47pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 11:46am:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:52am:

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week.

You pay for SFA for anything else - you're doing alright on the tax payer dime.

70% of my income is from work. I average $500/fortnight from Centrelink. Admittedly, Centrelink covers rent, food, and fuel. The rest of my work income covers electricity and phone.

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There are no rules here. Welcome to the slaughterhouse.

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