Farmers warn that raising the minimum wage would mean that Australians will pay more every day at the supermarket checkout.
Queensland farmer Warren Jonsson said today that the increase will have a “dramatic effect” on his entire supply chain and will affect his business by $ 85,000 a year.
“I only see one result for us: there will be more unemployed, which is very unfortunate because many companies have struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Warren told Today.
You can subscribe to today’s newsletter here. (Today) Queensland farmer Warren Jonsson said he will have to raise his prices in the long run to cope with the rising minimum wage. (Today)
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Warren said he is waiting for prices to rise for his Jonsson’s Farm Market customers, but in the long run he will have to stay afloat.
“If the supply chain is to continue, we need to pass on those costs. There are difficult times for everyone,” he said.
Warren said he knows he will lose customers if prices go up too much and with lettuce costs rising to $ 10 as an example, he has already seen a drop in sales.
Warren said he knows he will lose customers if prices go up too much. (Getty Images / iStockphoto)
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He has also been informed that his electricity bill will increase by more than 35 per cent in the next 12 months.
“Is it true? We have this supposedly renewable energy, there are windmills going up to my back door in Coban and we have solar and the price is still going up,” he said.
“Something’s wrong, it’s not entirely sustainable, is it?”
Watch the full interview with Warren above
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