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ACTU: we support 'simple and fair' bargaining
McManus is asked on whether, like Westacott, she would like to see the principles of enterprise bargaining as proposed under the Hawke-Keating governments introduced as "originally designed".
McManus:
Yes, the idea of bargaining being simple and fair is something we both support. Those are the principles absolutely. Just where Jennifer left off on the Hawke and Keating enterprise bargaining system, I think we can get close to that and make it better. Simple for workers and simple for employers. The thing that is different is the better off overall test. We moved away from what was called the no-disadvantage test because some employers were rorting it, using it to cut wages and then had unfair competition with other employers. We have to change that to make sure it is about bargaining going forward.
Yes, the idea of bargaining being simple and fair is something we both support. Those are the principles absolutely. Just where Jennifer left off on the Hawke and Keating enterprise bargaining system, I think we can get close to that and make it better. Simple for workers and simple for employers.
The thing that is different is the better off overall test. We moved away from what was called the no-disadvantage test because some employers were rorting it, using it to cut wages and then had unfair competition with other employers. We have to change that to make sure it is about bargaining going forward.
Business council looking to lift migration cap by 220,000 places
ABC's Insiders is asking the heads of the ACTU and BCA if they both want to revive an agreement from a years ago regarding the better off overall test. Westacott clarifies that she wants to "progress the key principles of it".
On the migration cap, Westacott is asked how high the BCA would like to see the cap lifted. She says she wants it lifted by 220,000 places.
We have to do two things: Deal with the short-term issues you have been talking about this morning. We just don't have enough people to do things but the real purpose of migration is not to focus on a number, but to focus on what do we want the role of migration to be, which is bringing in the skills that will allow us to go to what I call the frontier economy.
We have to do two things: Deal with the short-term issues you have been talking about this morning.
We just don't have enough people to do things but the real purpose of migration is not to focus on a number, but to focus on what do we want the role of migration to be, which is bringing in the skills that will allow us to go to what I call the frontier economy.
Westacott says she wants Australia to bring in the "best and brightest" people "from around the world to come in, transfer their knowledge and drive innovation".
McManus is asked for her view:
We've said a bit less than that, but around the same figure, but for us the issues are needing a plan to address wages and needing a plan to address skills.
McManus says she wants to see more Australians trained to do these jobs and more permanent migration, not just temporary migration to fill a job.
Unions and employees detail plans to invest in skills
Westacott says rebuilding the Tafe system after a period of "underinvested" was important to addressing this.
Companies are very happy to step up here . but you do need higher wages, particularly for smaller business. The other thing we've calling for is that we have got to get a system where people can do life-long learning, micro credentials, stack stuff up, get skills more quickly. Not having to go back and do a 3-year Tafe course or 3-year[s of] university, they can get things more quickly, keep their skills current.
Companies are very happy to step up here . but you do need higher wages, particularly for smaller business.
The other thing we've calling for is that we have got to get a system where people can do life-long learning, micro credentials, stack stuff up, get skills more quickly. Not having to go back and do a 3-year Tafe course or 3-year[s of] university, they can get things more quickly, keep their skills current.
The final question is for McManus, who is asked about calls for the government to raise the unemployment rate from $46 a day - a figure well below the poverty line - and why apprentice wages should be a priority.
. Apprentices are paid appallingly and we are not attracting people to do those jobs because they can't live on those wages. That is something that is needed if we are going to be able to move . to renewable energy, for example. We absolutely need to address that particular issue, and investing in Tafe and Vet [Vocational Education and Training] is part of productivity, it is part of how you become a more productive country is by investing in people so that they can use skills.
. Apprentices are paid appallingly and we are not attracting people to do those jobs because they can't live on those wages. That is something that is needed if we are going to be able to move . to renewable energy, for example.
We absolutely need to address that particular issue, and investing in Tafe and Vet [Vocational Education and Training] is part of productivity, it is part of how you become a more productive country is by investing in people so that they can use skills.
Westacott: employees and employers both on a 'unity ticket' about higher, sustainable wages
Asked about a previous agreement where the ACTU and BCA nearly came to an agreement about enterprise bargaining, the idea was that agreements could be fast-tracked through the Fair Work Commission, waiving the "better off overall" test.
Westacott is asked whether she would like to see this. She says both organisations are on a "unity ticket that we want people to be paid more and those wage increases sustained".
Enterprise bargaining, when done well, when you look at the data and averages on wages, people on enterprise agreements get substantially more money. That's the starting point. The principles that Sally and I negotiated a couple of years ago are basically the ones we should take forward. Don't get rid of the better off overall test, make it better off overall. Get rid of this idea of hypothetical workers. This is the crucial thing: When the parties agree, when they have negotiated in good faith, when they have followed the processes, [then] the Fair Work Commission doesn't try to re-write and micro manage that agreement. Make sure the . people who haven't been party to the agreement can't come in later and blow everything up.
Enterprise bargaining, when done well, when you look at the data and averages on wages, people on enterprise agreements get substantially more money. That's the starting point.
The principles that Sally and I negotiated a couple of years ago are basically the ones we should take forward. Don't get rid of the better off overall test, make it better off overall. Get rid of this idea of hypothetical workers.
This is the crucial thing: When the parties agree, when they have negotiated in good faith, when they have followed the processes, [then] the Fair Work Commission doesn't try to re-write and micro manage that agreement. Make sure the . people who haven't been party to the agreement can't come in later and blow everything up.
Business council says one-size-fits-all approach to wages will be a disservice to employers
Jennifer Westacott, the head of the Business Council of Australia, is asked to respond to these points and says her concern is that "we try to fix one problem and end up with a lot more".
She says innovation and productivity grows wages and it would be unfair for a business in Bendigo to have its wages and conditions set by a manufacturer in Tasmania or Adelaide.
"How will that work to drive inflation?" Westacott asks.
She also says her concern is about driving competition and prioritising innovation in areas like aged care to "give better patient care, to give better services" as "many of them are stuck in very old-fashioned demarcation areas":
My next concern is industry-wide strike action. Don't forget before the 1983 summit, we lost 1.3m days in strike action, and I know that's not Sally's intent.
On sector-wide bargaining, Westacott says a one-size-fits-all approach will be a disservice to employers:
My final concern is this idea of pattern bargaining, where somewhere in the supply chain you start negotiation and then as it moves through the supply chain, it ends up with an employer who simply doesn't have the capacity to pay that - irrespective of their workers, their markets, their customers, the amount of money they've got to pay. So they are our concerns.
ACTU: Individual bargaining is 'not practical and not happening'
McManus and Westacott are being led in a dialogue that is meant to echo what is to come at the Skills Summit going on. McManus is asked to respond to the concerns raised by the BCA:
It is very simple. If you [are working] in a child care centre, the idea that you can bargain with individual management . and improve wages for yourself, let alone all child care workers is obviously not practical and not happening. They deserve . the same rights as everyone else.
McManus: normal part of bargaining to have industrial action as a last resort
McManus is asked if she wants workers in specific business to regain the right to strike in support of workers in other business (otherwise known as sympathy strikes or solidarity action).
McManus:
Not in support of workers in another business - together. It is a normal part of bargaining to have . as a last resort, to take industrial action, and that is what happens in countries that have multi-employer bargaining, and there [are] not more strikes, there is more pay rises. Essentially when workers have an option to do that, obviously it means the option to have a better outcome, and a better outcome more quickly.
Not in support of workers in another business - together. It is a normal part of bargaining to have . as a last resort, to take industrial action, and that is what happens in countries that have multi-employer bargaining, and there [are] not more strikes, there is more pay rises.
Essentially when workers have an option to do that, obviously it means the option to have a better outcome, and a better outcome more quickly.
ACTU: workers' bargaining system must suit the economy of today
First question this morning on ABC's Insiders is for Sally McManus, the head of the ACTU, about sector-wide bargaining and whether she wants this across-the-board or only for specific sectors. McManus said the experience of workers over the last 30 years has seen their bargaining power lost.
McManus:
Basically, workers' bargaining power has been smashed over that period of time That's why we have a problem, a huge problem, with wages growth and unless we address that issue, that is not going to change. We think [sector-wide bargaining] should be open to all, but obviously a lot of places . they are getting pay rises at the moment. They can access the bargaining system. [.] But the system was never designed for people in small workplaces, people in funded services, people like those cleaners and it just needs to be upgraded and suit the economy of today, not the economy of 30 years ago.
Basically, workers' bargaining power has been smashed over that period of time That's why we have a problem, a huge problem, with wages growth and unless we address that issue, that is not going to change.
We think [sector-wide bargaining] should be open to all, but obviously a lot of places . they are getting pay rises at the moment. They can access the bargaining system.
[.] But the system was never designed for people in small workplaces, people in funded services, people like those cleaners and it just needs to be upgraded and suit the economy of today, not the economy of 30 years ago.
Skilled migration isn't a substitute for training, treasurer says
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has appeared on Sky News this morning where he warned any lift to the migration cap cannot be made at the expense of training the domestic workforce.
The Business Council of Australia is urging the government to boost the permanent migration cap to 220,000 temporarily to make up for the shortfall in migration during the pandemic.
Chalmers says the government will look at sensible migration policy and reform at the upcoming skills and jobs summit, but Australians shouldn't be stripped of opportunities in the labour market.
We can't fall in the trap of saying migration is a substitute for training, we need to move on both fronts in sensible ways. We can do something sensible [with immigration], we can have more appropriate settings for our economy at the same time as we train more of our people for more of these opportunities, as well as make it easier for people to participate in the labour market.
We can't fall in the trap of saying migration is a substitute for training, we need to move on both fronts in sensible ways.
We can do something sensible [with immigration], we can have more appropriate settings for our economy at the same time as we train more of our people for more of these opportunities, as well as make it easier for people to participate in the labour market.
The treasurer also defended not having bank heads attend the government's signature jobs summit at the start of September.
"The bank CEOs will be represented very capably by [Australian Banking Association head] Anna Bligh," Dr Chalmers said.
I speak to the bank CEOs all the time in my job. I've had meetings with all of them in the last month or so. And they're obviously providing key input into our economic policies. More broadly, you know, it's not possible to fit everyone that you would like to fit in a job summit. In a number of instances, we've got peak groups there representing a broader constituency.
I speak to the bank CEOs all the time in my job. I've had meetings with all of them in the last month or so. And they're obviously providing key input into our economic policies.
More broadly, you know, it's not possible to fit everyone that you would like to fit in a job summit. In a number of instances, we've got peak groups there representing a broader constituency.
The nationals leader, David Littleproud, is attending the summit despite it being snubbed by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
Appearing on Sky News this morning, Littleproud acknowledged Dutton's suggestion the invitation could be a stunt but said it was rare for rural and regional Australia to be given such a platform.
The National party solely looks after regional rural Australia. We have a purity of purpose. We very rarely get a voice. We feel as the Nationals it was important we use whatever platform, no matter how hollow it may be. That we are there advocating for policies that are unique, that will address the challenges that regional [and] rural Australians are facing.
The National party solely looks after regional rural Australia. We have a purity of purpose.
We very rarely get a voice. We feel as the Nationals it was important we use whatever platform, no matter how hollow it may be.
That we are there advocating for policies that are unique, that will address the challenges that regional [and] rural Australians are facing.
- with AAP
I'm up shortly on ?@SkyNewsAust? from ?@RochedaleRovers? in Logan City with ?@Kieran_Gilbert? ahead of the ?@AlboMP? Govt #JobsSummit later this week #auspol #ausecon pic.twitter.com/ZjY99IEVum
ABC Insiders this morning is talking about the upcoming skills summit, with guests including the ACTU's secretary, Sally McManus, and the Business Council of Australia's chief executive, Jennifer Westacott.
Five people with Covid-19 have died in New South Wales overnight, with the state recording 4,160 new cases on Sunday morning, 1,821 people in hospital, and 45 in ICU.
COVID-19 update - Sunday 28 August 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
- 96.9% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 95.4% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine* pic.twitter.com/AOauq64PVI
- 69.5% of people have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine**^
- 82% of people aged 12-15 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 78.3% of people aged 12-15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 49.5% of people aged 5-11 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 1,821 hospitalisations
- 45 people in ICU
- 5 lives lost
- 4,160 positive tests: 2,039 RAT & 2,121 PCR
*Data as at 21 August 2022 updated weekly
^Data as at 25 August 2022
**Includes both immunocompromised people who have received a third dose and all eligible people who have received a booster.
Two arrested after late-night Adelaide brawl
Two men have been charged after allegedly arming themselves with an axe and a knife in a late-night brawl at an Adelaide park, AAP reports.
A 23-year-old Rosewater man suffered minor injuries to his arms after he was allegedly hit with a small axe during the fight at Ferryden Park before midnight on Saturday.
The fight is believed to have been between groups known to each other and the victim was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital for treatment.
Police searched the area and located the two suspects nearby, including one allegedly in possession of a knife.
A 22-year-old Port Adelaide man and a 19-year-old Rosewater man were charged with aggravated assault and affray before being bailed to appear in court at a later date.
Nine people with Covid-19 have died in Victoria overnight, with the state recording 2,099 new cases on Sunday morning, 372 people in hospital, 23 in ICU and 6 on ventilation.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah pic.twitter.com/N41sBWjnAW
3 doses (16+): 69.7%
2 doses (12+): 94.7%
Doses total: 6,341,844
Hospital: 372
ICU (active + cleared): 23
Ventilated: 6
Lives lost: 9
New cases: 2,099 (Rapid antigen test cases: 1,473, PCR test cases: 626)
PCR tests: 7,057
Active cases (all): 17,031
Labor: balance needed between skilled migrants and local training
Gallagher would not be drawn, however, on questions about whether she would support sector-wide collective bargaining or what her position would be on lifting the cap on skilled migration to address labour shortages.
Gallagher:
I think what we need to do is get a balance between the skilled migration program, access to permanent residency and - don't take the eye off the ball of training local . young people or training everybody for the jobs and opportunities of the future. And I think that's where it's got a little bit out of whack over the last few years . people have seen the migration program as a way of importing skills without having the focus on training local . Australians for those jobs and those opportunities.
I think what we need to do is get a balance between the skilled migration program, access to permanent residency and - don't take the eye off the ball of training local . young people or training everybody for the jobs and opportunities of the future.
And I think that's where it's got a little bit out of whack over the last few years . people have seen the migration program as a way of importing skills without having the focus on training local . Australians for those jobs and those opportunities.
Finance minister: sector-wide bargaining not a flashback to the 70s
The finance minister and minister for women, Katy Gallagher, has appeared on the ABC this morning talking about equal pay and participation of women in the workplace.
Gallagher said the issue of low wages was critical to correct the gender-pay gap which sees women "working for less than men across the board". She said that wages in "a highly feminised industry" like childcare is "plagued by low wages" which meant addressing low pay was critical.
"That's not fair, we want to change that," she said. "The care economy presents a huge opportunity for us not to just deal with women's workforce participation, but also to build a workforce for the future because it's a massive area of growth and is going to continue to be so. That will get a real focus at the job summit as well."
Gallagher was asked about comments by the Australian Industry Group that described a plan by the ACTU to return to sector-wide bargaining on wages as a "throwback to the 70s".
"I think there is universal agreement that the enterprise bargaining system isn't working as it was intended," Gallagher said:
But this discussion we are having at the jobs summit is a discussion about today's economy, and today's challenges. So I don't support the idea it's a flashback to the 1970s. This is really about how do we set up the employment framework for a modern economy with new challenges, and to make sure it protects the rights of working people but also allows business to flourish as well.
But this discussion we are having at the jobs summit is a discussion about today's economy, and today's challenges. So I don't support the idea it's a flashback to the 1970s.
This is really about how do we set up the employment framework for a modern economy with new challenges, and to make sure it protects the rights of working people but also allows business to flourish as well.
And welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
The former Howard government minister MP Fran Bailey has spoken about her clash with Scott Morrison when he was managing director at Tourism Australia. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Bailey was critical of Morrison, saying he had a "supreme belief that only he can do a job". Bailey was scathing of Morrison's prime ministership and says he must now leave parliament over the secret ministries affair.
Pressure is growing on the federal government to abandon its plan to delay or scrap the planned stage 3 tax cuts after half of the 18 cross-benchers in federal parliament said they would support such a move. In the senate, the Greens and senators David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie and Tammy Tyrrell are against the tax cuts. When the Sun-Herald and Sunday Age contacted all 18 cross-bench MPs and senators, nine said they wanted the tax cuts scrapped or delayed, two wanted to keep them, three were on the fence and four did not respond to requests for comment.
I'm Royce Kurmelovs, taking the blog through the day. With so much going on out there, it's easy to miss stuff, so if you spot something happening in Australia and think it should be on the blog, you can find me on Twitter at @RoyceRk2 where my DMs are open.
With that, let's get started ...