Tweet of the Week

The Australien Government has made an ad about its carbon credits and offsets scheme, and it’s surprisingly honest and informative!

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Quote of the Week

 

'“Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals, but the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.” – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres' [Antonio Guterres quoted in The Guardian, 7 April 2022 by climate scientist & author Peter Kalmus PhD Physics, Data Scientist - NASA]

Australian Federal Election 2022: National Minimum Wage and the Gig Economy

 

Attempting to add a little context to the mention of wages during the current federal election campaign.......

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman:

The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. This is the minimum pay rate provided by the Fair Work Act 2009 and is reviewed each year.

As of 1 July 2021 the National Minimum Wage is $20.33 per hour or $772.60 per week.

Employees covered by an award or registered agreement are entitled to the minimum pay rates, including penalty rates and allowances in their award or agreement. These pay rates may be higher than the National Minimum Wage.

The National Minimum Wage is varied for Apprentice and Trainee pay rates, Junior pay rates and Employees with disability pay rates.

The National Minimum Wage is set by the Fair Work Commission. The federal government of the day appoints Fair Work presidents, vice-presidents, deputy presidents and commissioners, of whom there are generally 42 in number. Since December 2018 it has been the Morrison Government making appointments to the Commission and allegations have persisted that it is now an employer dominated agency.

In June 2021 the National Minimum Wage increase represented a rise in remuneration of 2.5% before tax – rising from $19.24 to $20.84 an hour. That increase was a lordly 49 cents per hour worked.

At that time the Australian Attorney-General’s Department estimated that around 180,200 Australian employees (or 1.7% of the paid workforce) were being paid the national minimum wage rate. Though I rather suspect that that figure may have been years out of date when it was presented to the Commission.

Now during its annual wage reviews, the Fair Work Commission receives a number of submissions from government, industry groups, unions and other interested parties.

During the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2021 the  Morrison Government submitted its position on any change to the National Minimum Wage, which took 102 pages to say low or moderate increases are better than larger increases – if increases have to happen at all. Along with a somewhat novel argument from an ordinary citizen’s perspective, that there was no urgent need for a rise in the minimum wage because government supports low income households in other ways and it expects future minimum wage rate increases to be eaten away by government taxes.

This was the same basic approach taken previously by the Morrison Government during the Annual Wage Review 2020 and Annual Wage Review 2019. To which had been added in both those submissions, the argument that previous minimum wages allowed workers sufficient purchasing power. I note that it was in this period that the National Minimum Wage rose by 56 cents an hour in 2019 and by 35 cents an hour in 2020.

The next annual review of the national wage will announce its decision in the months after the 21 May federal general election – sometime in June-July 2022.

I think North Coast Voices readers would be safe in assuming that if re-elected the Morrison Government will be submitting arguments which resist decent National Minimum Wage increases for the next four financial years.

The last quarterly Cost Price Index was issued in December 2021 and showed a 3.5% overall increase - primarily driven by rises in the cost of transport, housing, household goods & services and health. While 2022 sees reports of sharply rising costs ahead of the first quarter Cost Price Index due to be released on 27 April.

There is another issue concerning the National Minimum Wage. It appears that workers in what is known as the “gig economy”, ie., individuals providing services to consumers for a fee via digital platforms or marketplaces, are outside the protection of the National Minimum Wage.

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman; Individuals working in the gig economy often perform work as independent contractors. This means they may have a commercial relationship with the company that hosts the digital platform or the consumers who receive their services.

This month, April 2022, the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee On The Impact Of Technological And Other Change On The Future Of Work And Workers In New South Wales released its first report titled The gig economy.

The report stated in part:

Food delivery workers and rideshare drivers typify the on-demand workforce. These workers' legal status under Commonwealth legislation as 'independent contractors' as opposed to 'employees' means they have few workplace entitlements. While the committee has noted the positive impact of on-demand work on the New South Wales economy, and some benefits that can flow for workers from flexible arrangements, our primary focus has been on the many significant disadvantages attached: the absence of guaranteed minimum wages and working hours, and of paid leave provisions; poor safety standards; and the lack of a fair dispute system in the event of workplace injury.

In short, the cyclist who delivers our Friday night takeaway receives next to none of the conditions long considered fair and decent across Australia. The job itself also puts workers in very real danger of injury, abuse and harassment. Late 2020 was marked by the deaths of no less than five food delivery riders, all while this inquiry was underway. These deaths, and the high potential for further tragedy, underscore the need for immediate action by the NSW Government.

From extensive evidence over eight hearings to date, the committee has concluded that current laws perpetuate the overwhelming power imbalance between lone 'contractors' and multinational platform companies, rather than mitigating it. Correspondingly, we have made four key findings: that New South Wales is falling behind other states and comparable nations in developing laws that establish decent working conditions in the gig economy; that the failure to provide gig workers with a minimum wage, paid leave and other basic workplace entitlements is increasing inequality in New South Wales; that gig workers currently lack the power to interact and negotiate with on-demand platforms as equals in New South Wales; and that the failure to provide gig workers with access to a low-cost independent tribunal empowered to hear and decide disputes is leading to injustice in New South Wales.

This was Leader of the Opposition & MP for Grayndler Anthony Albanese on Twitter, 26 February 2021, concerning the "gig economy":

Every Australian worker deserves the safety net of the Australian minimum wage. That’s the whole point. It’s the bare minimum. The reality is that workers in the gig economy aren’t getting a fair deal. We've got people earning $10 an hour with no sick leave and no security. We can do better. That’s why a Labor Government I lead will extend the powers of the Fair Work Commission to create minimum standards for gig economy workers – such as super, collective bargaining, and unfair dismissal protections. Labor is on your side.

While this was Australian Attorney-General & Minister for Industrial Relations Senator Michaelia Cash on behalf of the Morrison Government, Canberra Times, 1 June 2021:

Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash said she was wary of reforms that could stifle innovation, limit flexible work and raise prices in the gig economy.

Scott Morrison on the subject of the gig economy workforce, The Australian 13 April 2022, p.12:

Mr Morrison says it [size of the gig economy workforce] has changed little in 20 years.

Candidates standing in Page Electorate at 21 May 2022 Federal General Election - Part 1. Kashmir Miller, in her own words

Clarence Valley Independent, 13 April 20222:

Kashmir Miller, a fifth-generation Northern Rivers woman and a passionate youth advocate, is proud to be The Greens candidate for the seat of Page in the 2022 Federal Election. Image: Contributed

 

Born and raised in Lismore, 22-year-old Kashmir Miller 

is proud to be The Greens candidate for the seat of 

Page in the 2022 Federal Election.

After experiencing the catastrophic floods which

devastated Northern NSW, Ms Miller said during the 

past month locals have “watched the climate 

catastrophe arrive in our communities and our homes.”

“I’m here to tell the government that the time for

community consultation is far from over, and that we

cannot engineer our way out of the climate crisis,” she

said.

Ms Miller is adamant Australia needs a Federal

Government that is prepared to act seriously on climate

change, by legislating towards net zero by 2030, and

adapting to the challenges of more extreme weather

events that climate change brings.

“The reality of climate change after the recent floods is 

that the existing affordable housing crisis will worsen,”

she explained.

“Comprehensive mental health care is also vital to support

displaced communities and it must be included in

Medicare.

“I am running for The Greens because they are the only

party which have fought over many years on climate

change, properly funded health and education, and for

showing proper respect to our environment and our

diverse populations, particularly Indigenous and LGBTIQ+

people.

“The Greens have a long track record in improving the

integrity of our democracy in NSW through political

donation reforms and support for ICAC, measures that

are needed in Canberra too.”

Prior to commencing her political career, Ms Miller trained

as an actor and has been involved with local community

theatre for over 10 years.

She is passionate about providing the arts community with

the support it needs to get back on its feet.

“I experienced first-hand the effects of Federal 

Government cuts to arts schools and also to student

support, and this has led me to become a youth advocate

for the Raise the Rate campaign, fighting for students to

have a liveable income and address the housing crisis,”

she said.

“We need more representation for young people, LGBTQI+

 people and women, as The Nationals and Labor are falling

 behind.

“Parliament is severely lacking in diversity, and I will not 

sit around and wait for someone to fix it. “Politics is not

 easily accessible for people in my generation and our

 current MPs do not reflect our values.”

Ms Miller is currently finishing a law degree at Southern

Cross University (SCU) and has a long history of

involvement in local community groups.

She said she is excited to engage with the communities of

the electorate of Page to understand their values and 

what they want from their elected representatives, so she

can better represent them in Parliament.

Australian federal election campaign 2022: employment promises

The 2022 federal election campaign has begun in earnest. Prime Minister & Liberal MP for Cook Scott Morrison promises "to create1.3 million jobs over the next five years" [Sydney Morning Herald, 11 April 2022] and Opposition Leader & Liberal MP for Grayndler Anthony Albanese pledges "to support a road map released by Tech Council Australia (TCA) to reach 1.2 million jobs in the industry within eight years" [NEWS.com.au, 24 March 2022].

Perhaps before considering competing promises and any future claims one should look back on employment and jobs growth year-to-year for the four years since that regime change occurred.

Australian Bureau of Statistics- ANZ Research: National Job Vacancies(work available), Unemployment, Underemployment & All Hours Worked

6 September 2018: 178,322 advertised jobs available in August prior to Morrison becomes prime minister 24 August 2018

Seasonally adjusted in August there were: 

est.12,631,300 people listed as employed; 

est. 708,800 listed as unemployed; 

the unemployment rate was 5.3% and underemployment rate was 8.1%.

Total hours worked all jobs that month - 1,750.9 million.

6 September 2019: 156,978 advertised jobs available in August

Seasonally adjusted in August there were:

est. 12,926,900 people listed as employed; 

est. 716,800 people listed as unemployed; 

the unemployment rate was 5.3% and underemployment rate was 8.6%;

Total hours worked that month - 1,782.6 million.

Compared to August 2018 there were fewer available jobs, more people listed as unemployed and the underemployment rate was higher. More people were recorded as being in employment and national hours worked had risen.

7 February 2020: 149,544 advertised jobs available for January pre-COVID

Seasonally adjusted in January there were:

12,988,400 people listed as employed; 

725,500 people registered as unemployed; 

the unemployment rate was 5.3% and underemployment rate was 8.6%.

Total all hours worked that month - 1,778 million.

6 September 2020: 109,103 advertised jobs available in August

Seasonally adjusted in August there were: 

12,583,400 people listed as employed; 

921,800 people registered as unemployed; 

the unemployment rate was 6.8% and underemployment rate was 11.2%.

Total all hours worked that month - 1,683 million.

Compared to August 2019 there were fewer jobs available, less people were in employment, more people unemployed, the underemployment rate was higher and national hours worked had  fallen.

6 September 2021: 195,995 advertised jobs available in August

Seasonally adjusted in August there were:

13,022,600 people listed as employed; 

617,100 people listed as unemployed; 

the unemployment rate was 4.5% and underemployment rate was 9.3%;

Total all hours worked all jobs that month - 1,714 million.

Compared to August 2020 there were more jobs available, more people in employment, less people unemployed, the underemployment rate was lower and national hours worked had risen.

Between August 2018 and August 2021 all cited indicators fluctuated. However, by the end of that four year month-to-month comparison: the number of available jobs had risen by 17,673 in a resident population which had grown by est. 570,000 persons; people in employment had increased by 391,300; the unemployment rate was 0.8% lower; the underemployment rate1.2% higher; and national hours worked had fallen by 36.9 million.

4 March 2022: 228,170 advertised jobs available in February 

In February there were: 

13,372,000 people listed as employed; 

563,300 people registered as unemployed; 

seasonally adjusted the unemployment rate was 4.0% and underemployment rate 6.6%. 

Total all hours worked that month - 1,183 million. Most recent ABS data for 2022

Definitions

• Any person in the labour force who did paid work or who was only temporarily absent from paid work is considered employed. 
• Any person in the labour force who didn't do paid work and wasn't temporarily absent from paid work is considered unemployed.
• Any unemployed person who is no longer looking for work is considered not participating in the national labour force.
• Any person in paid employment who is not fully employed and is looking for and/or available to start work with more hours is considered to be underemployed.

SOURCES

https://media.anz.com/search-results?key=job+ad

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour

Dunoon Dam proposal debate continues to concern many in Northern New South Wales

Echo NetDaily, 8 April 2022:

A locally-based NSW Nationals MLC was recently pressured over his lack of consultation with Indigenous custodians regarding the contentious Dunoon Dam proposal.

According to the February 24 Hansard transcript of NSW Parliament, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Ben Franklin, was asked by Greens MP, Cate Faehrmann, if he had attempted to meet with the Widjabul Wia-bal people around their concerns about the impending destruction of 25 sacred sites, ‘should the Dunoon Dam go ahead’.

He replied in part, ‘The short answer is that I have not met with them yet. I do not think they have reached out to ask for a visit. I may be wrong, but I do not think that is the case. Of course, I would be happy to meet with them. I am happy to meet with any Aboriginal organisation or community across this State as much as I possibly can if my diary will allow’.

Mr Franklin also refused to pre-empt the outcome of any meeting, and said that, ‘We must genuinely collaborate and listen to their aims and ambitions and concerns in order to address them effectively’.

I am happy to meet with them

He went on: ‘Can we do that in every situation? No, because there are a range of competing interests within government and they must all be balanced. But I make the commitment that I am happy to meet with them’.

He added there was no plan on the table for the Dunoon Dam, ‘though there has certainly been discussion, and a different position has been promulgated by Rous County Council after the recent local government elections, which may lead to other actions. At the moment there is no plan on the table’. for the Government’s consideration. When there is one, obviously that will need to be considered’……

Ben Franklin has been a Nationals MLC for the last 7 years, first in the NSW Baird Government, then the Berejiklian Government and finally in the Perrottet Government. He has been Minister for Aboriginal Affairs as well as Minister for the Arts since December 2021. These are his first ministerial roles.

Despite living in Northern New South Wales, Mr. Franklin has a spotty voting history when it comes to protecting the aesthetic, environmental, cultural, social & economic values of local communities against the interests of industry lobby groups and party political donors.

On 4 February 2022 in the NSW Legislative Council as he danced around the issues of strong opposition of the Widjabul Wia-bal people to the widespread inundation of sacred land in order to create a second dam on Rocky Creek, along with the loss of 25 ancestral stone burial sites, he clearly stated that he was; “a very proud member of a resident of the northern rivers region of New South Wales and member of the National Party. As such, I understand the critical importance of building water infrastructure as well…..that we must look at what we need to do to build water and other infrastructure in this State”.

Mr. Franklin further stated that; “we must also be incredibly sympathetic to the concerns of Aboriginal people”.

Given his advocacy on sensitive issues often does not survive when it comes to the vote he casts in the Upper House, I am not all that hopeful that he will genuinely assist the Widjabul Wia-bal people to protect Country.

One suspects that he is likely to be more closely aligned with Kevin Hogan the Nationals MP for Page, one of only two federal electorates in the Northern Rivers, who clearly favours dam proposals.

Last Newspoll before 2022 federal general election was announced

 

Newspoll published on The Australian on 10 April 2022. Based on YouGov survey of 1,506 respondents conducted between 6 and 9 April.

RESULT

First Preference

Labor – 37% (-1)

Coalition – 36% (0)

Greens – 10% (0)

United Australia Party – 4% (+1)

One Nation – 3% (0)

Others – 10%

Two-Party Preferred 4 February 2018 to 10 April 2022

Click on image to enlarge

Two-Party Preferred 6-9 April 2022

Labor – 53% (-1)

Coalition – 47% (+1)

Based on Anthony Green’s Election Calculator this Two-Party Preferred result would see a 4.4% swing to Labor with 80 seats won (a gain of 11 seats) to Coalition with 65 seats won (a loss of 11 seats) and Minor Parties/Independents with 6 seats won - after factoring in retiring and sophomore MPs.

Preferred PM

Morrison (Coalition) – 44 (+1)

Albanese (Labor) – 39 (-3)

Uncommitted – 17 (+2)

Leaders Performance

Albanese – Approve 42 (-1) Disapprove 45 (+1)

Morrison – Approve 42 (0) Disapprove 54 (0)

Note:

Survey margin of error is ±2.5%

Comparing the Polls

IMAGE: 9 News, 10 April 2022
Click on image to enlarge