Telecommunications
Cost of living rises over the “noughties”
(17 February, 2010) Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the “noughties” decade has seen a large rise in the cost of essential items.
Here’s how some prices have risen since 2000.
| Hospital and Medical | +69% |
| Health Services | +64% |
| Dental | +53% |
| Medicines | +21% |
| Water and Sewerage | +94% |
| Rates | +83% |
| Gas | +54% |
| Electricity | +52% |
| Insurance | +36% |
| Rent | +32% |
| Car Registration/Tolls | +49% |
| Public Transport, Taxis, Ferries | +44% |
(Source: ABS CPI data September 2000 to September 2009).
Over the same time, average weekly earnings have risen too, but not by as much as most of the items in this list.
In fact many Australian workers are still playing “catch-up” after poor wage outcomes during the Howard years.
In the context of the current Telstra EA campaign, these numbers highlight the importance of a fair wage rise for ALL Telstra employees in order to protect living standards.
For more information, contact the CEPU via feedback@cepu.asn.au