Employers have warned against increasing the minimum wage after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten indicated his willingness to adhere to union requests for a "living wage".
In a speech delivered to business leaders on Wednesday, Mr Shorten declared that the upcoming federal election would be "a referendum on wages" and that the current minimum hourly rate was based on an out-dated understanding of the cost of living.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions welcomed his comments, but employer groups said forcing business owners to pay more would only drive up the unemployment rate.