AUSTRALIA needs to tackle rising inequality through the revival of the ‘‘social wage’’, with a greater role for the federal government in health and education and in providing ‘‘dignity in retirement’’.

KEVIN RUDD will be forced to extend his paid parental leave scheme to six months if he wants it to have guaranteed passage through the Senate, a move that would cause the scheme to increase in cost by $400 million a year.

THE NSW Industrial Relations Commission has rejected an employer's attempt to use last week's minimum wage freeze by the Fair Pay Commission to argue its case in bargaining for a workplace agreement.

The Fair Pay Commission's minimum wage decision could claim a shred of soundness and would certainly be fairer if every other industry, political and professional group in the economy had voluntarily instituted a salary freeze during the economic downturn ("Minimum wage freeze causes union anger", July 8).

NEWCASTLE Trades Hall has said low-income earners should not be forced to pay the price of corporate greed, following warnings any rise in the minimum wage would be guided by the global economic crisis.