The apex court has questioned whether the government was aware that wouldn’t be able to afford the 2020 public wage increases.

Lawyers representing trade unions battled it out in the Constitutional Court over the government’s decision to renege on the 2018 wage agreement, and whether or not it was influenced illegally.

Unions say the agreement was a contractually binding document that became part and parcel of workers’ conditions when it was signed.

However, the state is adamant that the deal was unlawful and not approved by Treasury.

[Picture: EWN]