On 1 April 2018, the Government raised the minimum wage by 75 cents to $16.50 an hour. The labour cost index (LCI) salary and wage rates (including overtime) rose 0.5 percent for the June 2018 quarter and increased 1.9 percent for the year to June. The minimum wage will continue to rise in increments, reaching $20.00 per hour by 2021.

“Seventeen percent of all surveyed salary and wages showed a rise this quarter," business prices delivery manager Sarah Johnson said. "Around 3 percent of all wages were influenced at least partly by the minimum wage increase."

If wages affected by the minimum wage had remained constant in the June 2018 quarter, LCI salary and wage rates would have increased 0.4 percent over the quarter, and 1.8 percent for the year. . . . .