AUSTRLIANS THINK GOVERNMENT FAILING TO DEAL WITH FUTURE OF WORK CHALLENGES

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP.
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4 years ago
AUSTRLIANS THINK GOVERNMENT FAILING TO DEAL WITH FUTURE OF WORK CHALLENGES
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
Australians don’t believe the Government is doing enough to prepare and protect workers from the changes that come with automation and the future of work, according to a new YouGov survey commissioned by Unions NSW.
 
Nearly half (45 per cent) of Australians surveyed said the government isn’t doing enough to prepare for automation and more than 70 per cent of people across all age groups, education and income levels, are worried about the impact of automation on the Australian economy over the next decade.
 
Many Australians are deeply anxious about what the future will bring. We must ensure that there continues to be good, well paid jobs with a career path and job security. And we must ensure that all workers are part of our growth story.
 
This Morrison government does not have a good record on quality jobs. Under the Liberals, for the past six years, we have seen record underemployment, rising insecure work, and the advancement of an ideological obsession with attacking workers’ rights.
 
Australians will need ever-greater digital skills for our changing economy. We cannot stumble our way to success - we need to plan and act together. But this requires action.
 
More than three years ago, Minister Cash launched a CSIRO report on ‘Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce’, declaring that “the future of work is upon us…” and called for a conversation as Australians.
 
What ever happened to that conversation? Labor and the rest of the country are having it.
 
The widespread challenge of the future of work demands a more collective and inclusive redress.
 
The future of work is a challenge for everyone  – businesses, unions and government – to see beyond their own interests and identify threats to a strong national economy and to a thriving business sector.
Employment