Lollipop workers in Australia could be earning an eye-watering amount under a new Queensland Government plan.
The new wage of $A178,000 ($NZ188,000) for the traffic controllers is part of a new plan being considered by the Labor Government, according to the Australian Financial Review.
It would see a rise in wages to jobs on regional construction products in order to meet new minimum conditions. It will apply to major state-funded projects worth more than $A100 million ($NZ106 million).
The new plan was sent to tenderers in October and had 122 pages of minimum conditions. This included five percent annual pay increases, requirements to pay weekend hours at overtime rates of 200 percent and 21 percent superannuation contributions, according to the Australian Financial Review.
It is similar to an existing Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union's industry agreement.
Master Builders Association Queensland chief executive Grant Galvin said the policy was "Orwellian".
"They're not minimum conditions – they're maximum conditions," he said to the Australian Financial Review.
"The fact that the state government would even trial a policy which ensures that the most expensive and restrictive work practices in Australia are applied to all major government jobs across the state, is beyond comprehension."
He claims the new plan will force builders to make sure subcontractors apply the new rates and it will increase costs by at least 30 percent.
Carpenters will also receive a pay rise and would earn $A198,000 per year on a 46-hour week contract, according to the Australian Financial Review.
The policy hasn't been finalised, but a version of it will be piloted during the Cairns Convention Centre expansion, worth $A130 million.
