Almost 70 per cent of Australians consider the minimum wage to be too low for workers, with 33 per cent saying it should be "much higher", according to a new poll.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) poll found only one in five Australians think the minimum wage is "about right".
Some 59 percent of Liberal National voters believe the minimum wage – which currently stands at $34,980.40 per annum - should be raised.
The results also showed some 77 per cent of Labor voters also believe the minimum wage should be higher, according to the online poll carried out by Essential Research.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said wages in Australia had not kept pace with profits and growth, adding that the country is at risk of developing a US-style working poor.
"Wage growth is non-existent," Ms Kearney said.
"More than two thirds of Australians agree our lowest paid workers need a pay rise, yet Malcolm Turnbull has already passed $24 billion in tax cuts to businesses and would like to give them another $26 billion.
"There are more people working casual or part-time jobs than ever. Minimum wage earners often work unpredictable hours in insecure jobs.
"One in five workers rely on the minimum wage and live week to week, with no spare change. Wages across the board have not kept up with profits and growth.
"We are on the way to having a US-style working poor in Australia. The ACTU is calling for a minimum wage increase of at least $45 a week."
The poll was conducted in early April and based on a survey of 1015 respondents.
