09/06/2026
Ever wondered why your weekend breakfast or public holiday coffee comes with a surcharge?
From 1 July, the minimum award wage increases by http://4.75 per cent. Because of penalty rates, it means that on a public holiday, a dishwasher or kitchen hand will be making over $78 an hour.
While we all want everyone to earn a fair wage, the reality for our local, independent cafes is that margins have completely vanished. On average, cafes are now spending up to 50 per cent of every single dollar they take in just to cover staff wages. When you add in rent, doubling electricity bills, insurance, and the cost of ingredients, a cafe can serve 100 coffees and walk away with just $35 in profit.
Our local cafe owners aren't implementing surcharges to get rich. They are doing it just to cover costs so they don't have to close their doors for good. Next time you head out for a brew, let's show some love to the local venues working hard to keep our communities vibrant!
Find out more:
https://www.coffeecommune.com.au/wage-crisis-for-cafes/