Workplace Minister Tony Burke remains confident wages will increase despite the looming threat of further interest rate rises.
The Reserve Bank is widely expected to raise the official cash rate from 3.1 per cent when the board meets for the first time this year on Tuesday.
Mr Burke said while inflation was putting pressure on hip pockets following recent increases, wages were gradually starting to move.
"(Wages are) at 3.1 per cent, which is still perilously low compared to what's happening with inflation, but the legislation we put through last year means that will continue to move up," he told ABC Radio on Monday.
"Wages will be starting to go up now, some prices will be coming down."
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said recent interest rates hikes had been putting pressure on families.
"We have to take pressure off the cost of living for families and we are doing that, we have to do it in a way that doesn't increase inflation," she told Seven's Sunrise program.
Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said current measures by the government were not working due to the cash rate increases.
"They're not doing anything to put downward pressure on interest rates or households," he told Sky News.
"The government is basically asleep at the wheel or trying to address cost of living pressures. They need to get down and do some serious work and do it now because we get an interest rate rise again. Tomorrow, that is going to hurt families."
Analysts have forecast more uncertainty for the national economy throughout 2023.
Accounting body CPA Australia's senior manager of business policy Gavan Ord said more regulatory certainty was needed from the government in the months ahead.
"Rising interest rates, cost of living pressures and the ongoing effects of the pandemic continue to challenge businesses," he said.
"We're seeing the uncertainty facing businesses and consumers spill over into confidence."
