Both political parties must get serious about easing cost-of-living pressures on families this election campaign.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said wages had been stagnant well before the pandemic, while inflation continued to rise, ahead of the latest CPI figures released on Wednesday.

“CPI figures are already outstripping wages by 1.5 per cent, so people are going backwards,” she told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.

“Supply chain issues and costs are really big issues for people and their wages aren’t going up.

“You can’t avoid those bills when they come out and it’s really obvious your buying power is not the same as it was before.”

She said both parties required an “intention and a plan” to ease cost-of-living pressures on families.

Press PLAY below to hear more from Sally McManus on these issues