The real bombshell of the summit was the lunchtime announcement by Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke of what could be the first substantial reform of the industrial relations system in a decade.
But by putting multi-employer deals on the negotiating table, Burke immediately drew the ire of business groups such as the Australian Industry Group, which warned it could “open a new front for disruptive and costly industrial action”.
Setting a timetable for his proposal, Burke asked his department secretary to start planning talks from next week, the government is clearly taking a step that can boost IR where others have failed.
While cynics may rightly complain about the established discourses and schoolroom air of the summit seating arrangement, what cannot be easily dismissed is that people with very different views s ‘have had to face fund problems.
By simply holding the summit, the government forced various lobbyists, vested interests and businesses to focus their attention on solutions instead of finding a new way to avoid ditching their pills.
The government used a form of torture at the Hotel California, especially for business leaders, unions and prime ministers, who could check in any time they liked but couldn’t leave.
Tony Burke explains some of the industrial relations changes the government is considering. Credit: Getty
It forced them to listen to little-heard voices. Australian of the Year 2022 Dylan Alcott made it clear that despite the lowest unemployment rate in 48 years and businesses clamoring for labour, people with disabilities still seemed invisible to too many employers.
“I had a job interview once and I was upstairs. And instead of going down to interview, they just canceled it because I was upstairs,” he recalled.
Governments also had to raise their game. A change to age pension rules allowing older Australians to work longer without affecting their pension payout is likely to be agreed on Friday.
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Alcott noted that the same rate of change should be considered for those receiving disability support payments.
Grattan Institute boss Danielle Wood’s opening speech was aimed at the business, political and trade union class that has let the country down for too long.
Speaking about Australia’s mineral supply, he channeled Donald Horne’s famous idea that it is a lucky country run mostly by second-rate people.
“Once again, Australia is the lucky country – we are extraordinarily blessed with abundant supplies of renewable energy and critical minerals. I hope that today we can commit to being world-class leaders who use this good fortune to build future prosperity,” he said .
Being forced to sit and listen to something different can be worth the effort. Even when it’s a fist delivered with a velvet glove.
Grattan Institute chief executive Danielle Wood delivered an iron fist with a velvet glove during her speech at the summit. Credit: James Brickwood
Holding the top is the easy part.
Putting in place policies or incentives that bring more women, more pensioners and more people with disabilities into the world of work is a difficult task, not a two-day love affair.
It is also about getting a real industrial relations deal that benefits workers and business, and then getting it through parliament. Everything is far from a fact.
The jobs and skills summit may be just the first battle in a longer war.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, opinion and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can subscribe to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.