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The Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) was an Australian legislative body created under the Howard Government's "''WorkChoices''" industrial relations law in 2006 to set the minimum pay for workers. Established to replace the wage setting functions of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the AFPC set and adjusted a single adult minimum wage, non-adult minimum wages (such as training wage), minimum wages for award classification levels and casual loadings. The AFPC was abolished in December 2009 and the wage setting function passed to the minimum wage panel of Fair Work Commission. The minimum wage in Australia as at July 31, 2011 was $15.51 per hour or $589.30 per week. As at 1 July 2012, the minimum wage was $15.96 per hour or $606.40 per week.〔(ACTU – Minimum Wages )〕 Professor Ian Harper was the inaugural chairman of the AFPC, presiding over 4 commissioners: Mr Hugh Armstrong, Mr Patrick McClure AO, Mr Mike O’Hagan, and Honorary Professor Judith Sloan. In a speech to the Centre for Independent Studies titled "Christian Morality and Market Capitalism: Friends or Foes", Harper stated "The market is a means to an end rather than an end in itself" and "The trouble starts when one begins to treat market capitalism itself as a religion". The profile of the members of this commission was different from that of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission which previously had responsibility for determining the above quantities. There was less representation on behalf of the trade unions, and less transparency in decision-making, making it possible for the Australian Fair Pay Commission to make judgements with no community oversight or consultation. Unlike the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the commission funded substantial research on the economic effects of raising the minimum wage, and proponents claimed that this placed more of an emphasis on determining whether the economic evidence suggested that raising the minimum wage made the poor better off. Critics argued that the board lacked independence and scope and that it reduced the benefits of workers, while supporters believes that stimulated the economy and improved working conditions. ==2006 decision== On 26 October 2006, the AFPC handed down its (first decision ). The AFPC's media release stated:
In hourly terms, the Australian federal minimum wage increased to $13.47 per hour (for workers on pay scales of less than $700 per week), with effect on 1 December 2006. Many commentators were surprised that the AFPC's first decision was so large. For example, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) had asked for a minimum wage increase of $30 per week. Despite this, the rise barely kept up with inflation since the previous pay rise handed down by the AIRC in June 2005. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Australian Fair Pay Commission」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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