Asked if he would reach a deal between unions and businesses to improve enterprise bargaining,Albanese said he was also concerned with how effectively the system was working. “Where we can get co-operation,that’s a good thing,” he said.
The union movement and employer groups agree the system is broken but disagree on what needs to be done to fix it.
Deputy Liberal leader and small business spokeswoman Sussan Ley dismissed the summit,saying it would do nothing to deal with the immediate problems facing the nation’s businesses.
“A Labor talkfest with whiteboards and Post-It notes will be a boon for small stationery shops and that’s about it,” she said. However,shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the Coalition should be represented at the summit.
“If the government is serious about building genuine consensus behind the summit and the resulting white paper,they must ensure parliamentarians from all parties,including the opposition,have a seat around the table in September,” he said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said all ideas were on the table at the summit,and workplace reforms agreed to may be introduced this year.
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“We’ve deliberately chosen to put this jobs and skills summit on as soon as possible before the October budget that will be handed down,because there may be steps proposed and agreed at the summit which could be implemented quickly,without wanting to preempt that,” Chalmers said.
The prime minister said the country continued to rely on temporary migration “rather than more permanent forms”.
“We need to acknowledge that we need to make sure that we have better pathways as well to a permanent presence in Australia for people who can give us the skills that we need,” Albanese said.
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said immigration should provide opportunities for workers “who want to build a better life .... not facilitate systemic wage theft and exploitation.”
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Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth,said it was her aim to look at what the government could to provide greater employment opportunities for people with disabilities,those experiencing family and domestic violence,and those connected to the social security system.
Minister for Women,Katy Gallagher,said one of the priorities would be ensuring women have equal opportunities and equal pay.
“This summit will be an important first step to try and ensure our modern economy values women’s contributions in the workforce and addresses the barriers they face to participate,” she said.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weeklyInside Politics newsletter here.