Unions have urged Scott Morrison to consider sacking an expert member of the minimum wage panel for what they describe as “extraordinary and inappropriate” public comments about Labor’s wage policy.
The labour economist Mark Wooden reportedly said the Fair Work Commission does not want the government “telling [it] what to do” and Labor was playing “political games” by promising to lift wages if elected.
In a letter to Morrison on Friday the Australian Council of Trade Unions claimed that the comments from Wooden, an expert member of the commission’s minimum wage panel, could “undermine the independence and impartiality” of a review that sets the pay of 2.2 million Australians.
In this year’s minimum wage case, unions have asked for a $2,000 a year increase for the lowest paid, but the Morrison government has followed its usual practice of making a submission that does not nominate a raise of a particular size.
While attacking the government’s record on wage stagnation, Labor has pledged it will make a substantive submission to the annual review if elected.
Wooden reportedly told the Sydney Morning Herald that “as a member of the independent umpire, I’m very comfortably relieved the governments of the day don’t pressure us to make a particular decision”.
“Anthony Albanese is saying we will raise wages, which I think is very interesting since the only lever [the government] have to pull is the wages of the public service … when he says he’s raising wages, it’s just political games.”
Wooden reportedly said other aspects of Labor’s industrial relations policy, such as ensuring labour hire workers are paid the same as employees in the businesses in which they are placed could influence wage growth.
The ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, wrote to Morrison on Friday describing Wooden’s comments as “extraordinary and highly inappropriate”.
“[Wooden] has inserted himself into the political debate about low wages growth and the skyrocketing cost of living by appearing in today’s media to back in the government’s position,” she said.
McManus labelled it an “extraordinary political intervention right in the middle of the federal election campaign” likening it to a Reserve Bank board member commenting on the political debate about interest rates.
She asked for “an immediate investigation into today’s intervention to consider disciplinary action against him, including removal from the panel.”
All members of the commission are bound by a code of conduct that requires them to uphold principles including independence and impartiality. It advises members to “avoid involvement in political controversies” including by refraining from expressing views on politically sensitive topics.
Wooden was appointed to the expert panel for a five-year term in March 2020 by the Morrison government.
Labor’s shadow industrial relations minister, Tony Burke, said:
“I’m deeply concerned that this intervention by an individual involved in deliberating on the minimum wage jeopardises the integrity of the wage review process,” he said.
The Fair Work Act gives the industrial relations minister power to handle complaints about FWC members, and the governor general may suspend or terminate them for misbehaviour.
A government spokesperson said: “The government respects the independence of the Fair Work Commission. Mr Wooden’s comments are a matter for him.”
Guardian Australia asked Wooden and the FWC for comment.
