Only one in five Australians think minimum wage is 'about right'

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.

"Imagine living on $35,000 a year if you have a couple of kids, or you have to run a car or you have to get public transport to work, or you just want your family to be able to enjoy a weekend away or a night at the pictures," Ms Kearney said.

“You'd have to scrimp and save every bit of that. Both parents would have to work, just to make sure they're able to afford to pay what we know are very, very high rents at the moment.

”About 20 per cent of the population, around 2.3 million workers, rely on the award wage or the minimum wage, and the vast majority of the workforce are paid much more than that.

“It’s those high income earners who actually drive prices, drive the economy. So it’s very tough to live as that 20 per cent on the award or minimum wage when prices really reflect much higher salaries."

However, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jenny Lambert says she thinks any increase in the mimimum wage would result in a loss of hours.

"It's counterproductive. It is not much use earning more per hour, if you're working for less hours."

The poll was conducted in early April and based on a survey of 1015 respondents.