Employment
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On carrots and sticks and the unemployed
Australia’s main Active Labor Market Program, the Duttonesque sounding “Workforce Australia”, is the latest iteration of a long line of models for Employment Services inflicted on the unemployed since the demise of the CES 25 years ago. It’s yet another Morrison government turd that the Albanese government should have flushed away the minute the ink Continue reading »
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Environment: Sleepwalking into our fiery future
Not enough action to preserve our forests and not enough action to prevent bushfires. Less than twelve years before we hit 1.5o of global warming. Continue reading »
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Robodebt and the APS
The Robodebt scandal reflects badly on the Australian Public Service generally, and not just on those immediately responsible. Continue reading »
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The case for universal early childhood education
The implementation of universal high-quality early childhood education could be a game changer for Australian families and the economy. Continue reading »
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Elders – the ideal government consultants
We have a lot to learn from the PWC debacle and Julian Cribb’s paper “Look out! Here Come the Elders”. Continue reading »
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Our digital Aunty
The ABC is in trouble again as it abandons its cultural role to become “fully digital” by 2028. Continue reading »
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Can the Pacific Engagement Visa deliver positive outcomes?
Earlier this year, I wrote on the potential risks of the new Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) that will provide a lottery-based pathway to permanent residence for nationals of Pacific Islands and Timor Leste. Continue reading »
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Welcoming the New TAFE, a spring-board to fulfilling working lives
A TAFE system built around ideas for running 1950s American car-making factories is pretty much an anachronism in Australia in 2023, particularly when our future depends on innovation and rising productivity. But before New TAFE starts, Old TAFE must have a long, hard look at itself. Continue reading »
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Big business cries poor on wages even as profits mount
Don’t believe anyone – not even a governor of the Reserve Bank – trying to tell you the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase minimum award wages by 5.75 per cent is anything other than good news for the lowest-paid quarter of wage earners. Continue reading »
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Environment: Rich people are melting Arctic sea ice
Rich countries and rich people have incredibly high greenhouse gas emissions. Arctic sea ice is shrinking. Tasmanian government plans to make fish farms more environmentally destructive. Continue reading »
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When a war economy became an industry policy
Anthony Albanese’s photo opportunity with president Biden and prime minister Sunak in San Diego must rank as one of the more grotesque and expensive the world has seen. The submarine deal, glowingly described as his ‘moon shot’ with its $368 billion price-tag is an act of pillage of public money. It might allow him to Continue reading »
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What does a “good” employment service look like?
This week, the House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services held one of its public hearings. During the opening remarks, the Committee chair, Julian Hill remarked that he had asked the Department of Employment what a good service model looks like, and they couldn’t answer. He said they looked like a bunch of “well-paid, Continue reading »
