Wednesday, October 14, 2015

ACTU: Blueprint for reform

The ACTU is ready to roll up its sleeves and get to work to help bring about urgently needed government reforms on critical areas including changes to the tax system to make it fairer for all Australians.

We will work with the government, business and community groups to kick start urgent action to grow the economy, create jobs and lift living standards.

We need reforms that will address the challenges our economy faces: an aging population, technological change, global competition and changes to our labour market including new types of unregulated employment such as the ‘sharing economy’” and rising inequality.

In August the ACTU was part of the initial National Reform Summit. Out of that we released the “Building A Better Future” document to our affiliates. This document builds on the joint recommendations that arose out of that first summit.

These include:

  • Recognising the role governments must play across all sectors of our economy to ensure we generate the jobs, skills and innovation we need to build a better and fairer Australia
  • Address productivity growth in Australia by having a comprehensive industry policy
  • Review the tax system to ensure adequate revenue, including closing tax minimization loop holes for individuals and companies and superannuation tax concessions for the wealthy.
  • Support and fund research and development in innovation (including renewable energy) that drives Australia’s competitiveness.
  • Urgent action to close our current national infrastructure deficit
  • Government investment in public services to support a productive community and public assets to build economic growth
  • Increase government investment and support for schools, higher education, TAFE and VET including fully funding Gonski recommendations.
  • Address climate change including increasing Australia’s current emission reduction target

Attribute Quotes to ACTU Secretary, Dave Oliver:

“We want to engage on the high road of reform- not the low road of reducing wages, stripping conditions or cost shifting on to working families.”

“Cutting your way to growth doesn’t work- the European experience of austerity measures has shown that this is a lazy and destructive answer which is not a path to long term, sustainable economic growth.

“Decent, secure jobs and high living standards generate local consumer demand and productivity and are critical to boosting our economic prosperity. We must recognise the economic importance of ordinary working Australian families in any reform package.

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