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Labor says figures released by the ABS show gap between wage growth and cost of living increases in Australia is now the largest in more than two decades

Australian wages have not kept pace with inflation.

The government knows how miserable the real-world outcome is for people on low wages suffering excruciating effective marginal tax rates.

The cost of living is on the rise. The recent Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation of a standard basket of goods) revealed Australians’ grocery baskets are one of the biggest casualties.

The second leaders' debate on the Nine Network was full of accusations and acrimony. RMIT ABC Fact Check cuts through the shouting to bring you the facts.

COVID-19 travel restrictions brought migration to Australia to a virtual standstill, and over the course of the pandemic about 500,000 temporary migrants have left our shores. Now many Australian businesses are screaming out for more workers.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says retail trade rose 1.6 per cent in March to a record $33.6 billion, coming before rising interest rates take their toll.

This week’s Newspoll, conducted April 27-30 from a sample of 1,538, gave Labor a 53-47 lead, unchanged since last week. Primary votes were 38% Labor (up one), 36% Coalition (steady), 11% Greens (steady), 5% One Nation (up two), 4% UAP (steady) and 6% for all Others (down three).

Labor says its childcare policy will ease costs for almost 30,000 Hunter families after inflation figures this week showed a 4.2 per cent annual price rise in the sector.