The Fair Work Commission has ruled the national minimum wage will rise to 622 dollars-20 a week, from 606 dollars-40 currently.

It's less than the 30 dollars a week increase sought by unions but more than the five dollars-80 wanted by business groups.

Last year the national minimum wage rose by 17 dollars-10 a week.

The increase affects 1.5 million people and is lower than last year's rise.

UCB - Presenting Australia's only National Christian radio news service www.ucb.com.au

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will face a caucus push to expand the government's crackdown on sports bet advertising today.

Ms Gillard's announced new rules to regulate sports bet advertising, following concerns over live odds promotion during commercial television broadcasts.

But the Labor caucus, which meets in Canberra today, will press ahead to discuss a motion from NSW backbencher Stephen Jones, to remove all gambling advertising from children's viewing times.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott faces his own internal rumbles today when the coalition parties convene to discuss his plan for a generous paid parental leave scheme and his response to Labor's plan to axe the baby bonus. 

UCB - Presenting Australia's only National Christian radio news service www.ucb.com.au

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD is still hopeful most of the states and territories will sign up to Labor's schools funding reforms this week, despite the reluctance of Queensland and Western Australia.

Under a new model, Labor is offering the states 14-and-a-half billion dollars in schools funding from next year.

The federal government is offering to pay 75 per cent of the total with the remainder to come from the states and territories.

UCB - Presenting Australia's only National Christian radio news service www.ucb.com.au