After eight years of Liberal and National Governments, the average worker is $254 a week worse off, according to a new report by the McKell Institute.

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said this could make a huge difference for many families in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area.

“Wages have gone nowhere for eight years and the most recent Budget forecasts further cuts to real wages,” Mr Neumann said.

“What this report shows is that the average workers would be earning $254 more a week if wages growth had continued at the rate achieved when Labor was in Government.

“This is a weekly shop for a family or savings towards a house deposit or new car.

“Imagine what ordinary workers could do with another $13,000 a year.”

Wages grew 4.6 per cent between 2007 and 2013 when Labor was in Government, compared to 2.5 percent under the Coalition.

The McKell report, “Stuck in Neutral”, reports that men have been more significantly impacted by slow wage growth compared to women.

“You can see the gender pay gap when you look at the differences in average weekly earnings,” Mr Neumann said.

“Men would have been $310 a week better off under Labor while women would be earning $152 more a week.

“It’s clear that this Government’s policies are responsible for driving slow wages growth.

“That includes inaction on wage theft, reduction in penalty rates, a surge in temporary migrant worker visas, public sector pay-freezes, opposition to minimum wage rises through the Fair Work Commission and allowing the growth of the gig economy without sufficient regulation.

“Scott Morrison is not interested in getting wages going or cracking down on the dodgy use of casual contracts. He has intentionally and deliberately cut pays.

“Anthony Albanese has made it clear that a Labor Government would write “same job, same pay” into law, making wage theft a crime.

“We’re the only ones on the side of workers.”