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US President Joe Biden quipped that he got "sandbagged" after he tripped and fell -- but was uninjured -- while on stage at a US Air Force Academy graduation.

Biden had been greeting graduates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the front of the stage with salutes and handshakes, and turned to jog back toward his seat when he fell on Thursday.

He was helped up by an air force officer as well as two members of his US Secret Service detail.

Onlookers, including some members of the official delegation onstage, watched in concern before Biden, who at age 80 is the oldest president in US history, returned to his seat to view the end of the ceremony.

"I got sandbagged," the president told reporters with a smile when he arrived back at the White House on Thursday evening before pretending to jog into the residence. Two small black sandbags had been onstage supporting the teleprompter used by Biden and other speakers at the graduation.

"He's fine," White House communications director Ben LaBolt tweeted after the incident. "There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands."

Biden has been dogged by questions about his age and his fitness to serve, and his missteps have become fodder for political rivals as he campaigns for a second term in 2024.

He has stumbled before going up the stairs and onto Air Force One and he once got caught up in his bike pedals while stopping to talk to reporters near his home.

Biden's personal doctor said after the president's most recent physical exam in February that Biden "remains a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency".

© RAW 2023

Millions of Australians on award and minimum wages are set to find out how much more they will be paid.

But whether they should receive enough to keep up with the rising cost of living has been a point of contention between the government and the business lobby.

The Albanese government has insisted Australia's lowest-paid workers should not go backward, which would mean a wage rise at least in line with inflation.

Cabinet minister Jason Clare said more money in people's pockets meant more money spent at local and small businesses as well.

"It helps the economy," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"The reason we've got a challenge with inflation is not because people on the lowest incomes in Australia have been paid too much, it's just an outright lie."

But the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that too high a pay rise could cut into businesses' viability.

ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar said a rise of around 3.5 per cent would be the right number.

"That is consistent with getting inflation under control and safeguarding the interests of small business, which are particularly vulnerable at this point in time," he said.

He said claims big businesses were making record profits and executives enjoying large bonuses while minimum wage workers struggled were misleading.

"The reality is that in many sectors across the economy in retail, in manufacturing in construction, restaurants, cafes, hospitality, small business is struggling at the moment," he said.

"Many of them have seen declining margins over the past two years, they're facing much higher costs, they're the ones that employ people on award wages."

Economists have also warned a too-generous rise could add to pressure on the Reserve Bank to push up interest rates next week.

The Fair Work Commission will broadcast online the result of its latest wage review at 10am AEST on Friday, which is expected to impact on 2.67 million of the lowest-paid Australians.

Last year, the panel split its decision by awarding a 5.2 per cent increase to 180,000 workers on the lowest minimum wage, in line with inflation at the time.

As well, the umpire outlined an increase of $40 a week or at least 4.6 per cent for 2.6 million people on higher award rates.

With inflation at 6.8 per cent in the year to April, this would require a wage rise of at least 6.9 per cent.

Westpac economists predicted an average pay increase of 4.6 per cent, which would mean "constant or steady" rather than an increasing contribution to wage inflation.

However, ANZ experts believe there will be a seven per cent nominal increase in the national minimum wage in line with headline inflation.

"Risks around this are skewed to the downside, as the commission might seek a mid-point between submissions from unions and employers," ANZ economists said.

"For modern award minimum wages, we expect a smaller but still substantial nominal increase of five to 5.5 per cent."

This would lift the minimum wage to $841.04 a week, with 3.5 per cent directed to ordinary earnings and 0.5 per cent directed to the expected superannuation increase from July 1.

Peak union body the ACTU has argued for a seven per cent rise, or about $57 a week for a full-time worker on the minimum wage.

AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said there was now a "very high risk" of interest rates being hiked due to the "upside risks to wages flowing from the minimum wage increase, the still tight jobs market and faster public sector wages growth".

The RBA meets on Tuesday to consider whether to lift the cash rate from its existing 3.85 per cent.

© AAP 2023

US President Joe Biden has tripped and fallen after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy but got up quickly and walked back to his seat.

The 80-year-old US president fell forward, caught himself with his hands, then got up on one knee helped by three people.

He walked back to his seat unassisted.

After Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over.

He mingled with other officials afterward, smiling and giving a "thumbs up" sign.

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said on Twitter that Biden was fine.

"There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands," he explained.

The fall came after a commencement address Biden delivered to a flag-waving audience where he warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

Biden, the oldest person to hold the Oval Office, is running for re-election in 2024.

Polls show US voters are concerned about anyone over 75 becoming president.

His leading Republican opponent, Donald Trump, turns 77 this month.

Doctors declared Biden healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February, noting the president does not drink alcohol or use tobacco and exercises "at least" five times a week.

Biden fell as he was dismounting his bicycle last June, after snaring a foot in a toe clip, but was uninjured.

© RAW 2023