Inside the eye-watering pay of Aussie lollipop workers: Union rates, long hours, and divided opinions
There are more than 16,000 lollipop workers employed across the country, and some workers have reported annual pay of up to $200,000 a year — nearly double the average annual salary for full-time workers.
The role involves the direction of road and pedestrian traffic to ensure the safety of emergency response teams, construction workers and the general public.
Sky News
reported that the high wages are being earned by trade union workers part of Victoria's Big Build project, who pull in about $206,000.
But the job is far from standard, with employees working 56 hours over a six-day week.
Private company salaries appear to be much lower, starting at $55,000, with an hourly rate of about $30.
The union rate is $49 per hour, and doubles to $98 per hour for 16 hours of double time.
A Facebook group called Traffic Controller Australia sees many workers call out the high pay perception as far from the truth for non-union workers.
One user said, 'I don't even make half of that, and that's with working away a lot'.
Others have said they are treated badly by the public.
One Facebook user wrote, 'there is no power being a traffic controller' and that 'most of the population think we are pests and do nothing'.
In a TikTok interview, one worker said they are 'not allowed to sit down' and that workers have to learn to occupy themselves.
Workers seem to disagree on how difficult the job really is.
Some lollipop workers have come forward, saying the work is easy and they get paid to just stand there.
Ruth Birch, a TikTok user, told her followers she would 'rather be paid to be bored than to be stressed'.
She encouraged other women to get their traffic control ticket so they could do the same work.
But others highlighted the danger of the work, even saying they have risked their lives while on the job.
Many say they experience an increased risk of physical harm, especially when called to crash sites.
One Reddit user said the work is 'definitely not hard' but is 'very dangerous'.
Jobs and Skills Australia highlights a significant gender gap, as 67 per cent of those employed in the field are men.
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The company has said its hybrid-heavy lineup has already allowed it to start accumulating credits under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), meaning it can continue to offer diesel models without copping financial penalties, and also avoid imposing price rises on customers as other brands have done. GWM wants to be a top-five automotive brand in Australia by 2030, with plans to surpass 50,000 sales this year and reach 75,000 annual deliveries by the end of the decade. MORE: Explore the GWM Tank 500 showroom Content originally sourced from:
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BYD has not yet officially confirmed which Denza models will be sold in Australia but has previously invited media to drive the Z9 GT – a Porsche Taycan-rivalling grand tourer offered with both plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains in China. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT Denza also makes the Range Rover-rivalling U9 large SUV and the D9 luxury people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 which went on sale in Australia earlier this year – both offered with hybrid and EV powertrain choices. A rival to Geely-owned Zeekr, Denza's launch will follow that of SAIC Motor's IM Motors brand – officially named 'IM presented by MG' – which opened its order books in Australia in June 2025. MORE: Denza brand locked in for Australia MORE: BYD's electric hypercar can jump on its own – but why? Content originally sourced from: China's BYD has confirmed plans to launch its ultra-premium Yangwang brand – which makes the 'jumping' U9 electric supercar – in Europe as a rival to Porsche, Bentley and Jaguar. Speaking to Autocar, BYD vice president Stella Li said, "Our plan is that we bring Yangwang to Europe", with the British publication suggesting the EV (electric vehicle) brand's launch sometime after the Denza brand's 2026 Europe kick-off. It's the first market outside of China and Hong Kong where the Yangwang brand is launching. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 Formed in 2022, Yangwang sits atop BYD's brand hierarchy and features the automaker giant's most expensive, exclusive and luxurious models. This currently includes the 'jumping' 960kW U9 electric supercar, quad-motor U7 electric sedan and the amphibious U8 large SUV, an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). While not yet locked in for Australia, the local BYD office wouldn't rule out the Yangwang luxury brand for local showrooms when asked by CarExpert, and the U8 off-roader has been spied testing in the Australian outback and displayed in local showrooms. ABOVE: Yangwang U8 The U8's price in China converts to $234,679 before on-road costs, the highest price for a Chinese-made vehicle at the time (since overtaken by the U9). It would therefore break new ground for a Chinese brand here, too. Right-hand drive production of the U8 – which is even bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser – started in late 2024, making an Australian launch more feasible. The U8 was shown to Australian media on a recent trip to China, suggesting it – and the Yangwang brand – may be heading here. ABOVE: Yangwang U7 Earlier this year, BYD told CarExpert "Nothing's off the table" when it comes to the models it's considering for Australia from BYD and any of its brands, which comprise Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang. Of these, BYD Australia has confirmed Denza will be offered in Australia with a planned launch set for late 2025 – and has also suggested some Fangchengbao models will be offered here under the Denza name. Denza sits above BYD in the brand's portfolio as a premium offering, but Yangwang is designed to compete in a more expensive, ultra-exclusive territory against the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin. BYD has not yet officially confirmed which Denza models will be sold in Australia but has previously invited media to drive the Z9 GT – a Porsche Taycan-rivalling grand tourer offered with both plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains in China. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT Denza also makes the Range Rover-rivalling U9 large SUV and the D9 luxury people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 which went on sale in Australia earlier this year – both offered with hybrid and EV powertrain choices. A rival to Geely-owned Zeekr, Denza's launch will follow that of SAIC Motor's IM Motors brand – officially named 'IM presented by MG' – which opened its order books in Australia in June 2025. MORE: Denza brand locked in for Australia MORE: BYD's electric hypercar can jump on its own – but why? Content originally sourced from: China's BYD has confirmed plans to launch its ultra-premium Yangwang brand – which makes the 'jumping' U9 electric supercar – in Europe as a rival to Porsche, Bentley and Jaguar. Speaking to Autocar, BYD vice president Stella Li said, "Our plan is that we bring Yangwang to Europe", with the British publication suggesting the EV (electric vehicle) brand's launch sometime after the Denza brand's 2026 Europe kick-off. It's the first market outside of China and Hong Kong where the Yangwang brand is launching. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 Formed in 2022, Yangwang sits atop BYD's brand hierarchy and features the automaker giant's most expensive, exclusive and luxurious models. This currently includes the 'jumping' 960kW U9 electric supercar, quad-motor U7 electric sedan and the amphibious U8 large SUV, an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). While not yet locked in for Australia, the local BYD office wouldn't rule out the Yangwang luxury brand for local showrooms when asked by CarExpert, and the U8 off-roader has been spied testing in the Australian outback and displayed in local showrooms. ABOVE: Yangwang U8 The U8's price in China converts to $234,679 before on-road costs, the highest price for a Chinese-made vehicle at the time (since overtaken by the U9). It would therefore break new ground for a Chinese brand here, too. Right-hand drive production of the U8 – which is even bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser – started in late 2024, making an Australian launch more feasible. The U8 was shown to Australian media on a recent trip to China, suggesting it – and the Yangwang brand – may be heading here. ABOVE: Yangwang U7 Earlier this year, BYD told CarExpert "Nothing's off the table" when it comes to the models it's considering for Australia from BYD and any of its brands, which comprise Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang. Of these, BYD Australia has confirmed Denza will be offered in Australia with a planned launch set for late 2025 – and has also suggested some Fangchengbao models will be offered here under the Denza name. Denza sits above BYD in the brand's portfolio as a premium offering, but Yangwang is designed to compete in a more expensive, ultra-exclusive territory against the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin. BYD has not yet officially confirmed which Denza models will be sold in Australia but has previously invited media to drive the Z9 GT – a Porsche Taycan-rivalling grand tourer offered with both plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains in China. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT Denza also makes the Range Rover-rivalling U9 large SUV and the D9 luxury people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 which went on sale in Australia earlier this year – both offered with hybrid and EV powertrain choices. A rival to Geely-owned Zeekr, Denza's launch will follow that of SAIC Motor's IM Motors brand – officially named 'IM presented by MG' – which opened its order books in Australia in June 2025. MORE: Denza brand locked in for Australia MORE: BYD's electric hypercar can jump on its own – but why? Content originally sourced from:
