The cost of living in Australia has increased dramatically with the inflation rate hitting its highest peak in two decades, with consumer prices jumping up by 2.1 per cent in the first 3 months of 2022.

A rate this high has not been seen since September 2000, currently sitting at 5.1 per cent.

Grocery prices saw an increase with vegetables (+6.6 per cent), waters, soft drinks, and juices (+5.6 per cent), fruit (+4.9 per cent) and beef (+7.6 per cent).  The housing unaffordability crisis has hit young people especially hard with the Australian dream getting further and further out of reach for many Australians especially young people.  

The cost-of-living crisis is an issue that involves a list of several long- and short-term solutions to solve and one of them especially for young people is to pay 18- to 20-year-olds the full adult wage. 

A junior is an employee under 21 years of age

18-year-olds are only entitled to 70 percent of the adult pay rate 

19 years old are entitled to 80% of the adult pay

20 years are entitled to 90% of the adult pay 

Why is this fair 

As an 18-year-old under the law you are considered an adult allowed to drink alcohol, get your license, go to war, graduate from high school but still not considered old enough to receive a decent wage. 

Sign this petition to put pressure on government to pay the full adult wage to workers as soon as they turn 18.