Centre for Future Work

Imperatives for greater productivity growth should not blind us to the risks AI poses.

@drfionamac.bsky.social, Director of @futurework.org.au, joined the AI symposium organised by the ACTU today to discuss the need for strong regulation.

Our submission:
futurework.org.au/report/submi...

The ultra-wealthy have exploited Australia’s tax system for too long. It’s time to ensure everyone pays their fair share | Sally McManus When the very wealthy pay less tax than a bus driver or an aged care worker, something is very wrong

We need tax reform to stop intergenerational inequality. Sally McManus in today's Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Here's something absolutely cooked about books in Australia Winning authors pay tax. Mug punters, that's another story.

If you bet on the winner of the Miles Franklin, your windfall is tax free but if you win the Miles Franklin you pay tax. There's an easy and cheap way for the gov to help our best artists and writers. Make prizes tax free.
Thanks to @charlottewood.bsky.social & Melissa Lucashenko for their thoughts

There is little evidence of a "productivity crisis" in Australia, despite claims to the contrary from business leaders and politicians. Read new Centre for Future Work by
Jim Stanford
futurework.org.au/report/produ...

John Kehoe says NDIS funding makes "Australia among the biggest government spenders on disability in the world.”
He has got it wrong - The NDIS is investment that supports the economic and social participation of people (with a disability), not "spending on disability".

The NDIS does not increase “welfare dependency” (as asserted in today's AFR). It increases employment. Under the NDIS, labour force participation of people with disability (PWD) grew from 53% to 61%. For people without disability it barely changed. Unemployment for PWD declined from 10% to 7%.

Greg Jericho explains how hard it is to to get to the point where you could have $3m in super - even if you were very very lucky (and, of course , didn't ever take any time out to provide care)

Greg Jericho explains how hard it is to to get to the point where you could have $3m in super - even if you were very very lucky (and, of course , didn't ever take any time out to provide care)

🤣

A landmark ruling will tackle the gender pay gap for thousands of workers Before changes to the Fair Work Act, almost all attempts by unions to address gender pay inequity failed.

A landmark ruling will tackle the gender pay gap for thousands of workers
theconversation.com/a-landmark-r...

Register for this exciting Carmichael Centre event on May 1, 12pm-1pm, here!

Register for this exciting Carmichael Centre event on May 1, 12pm-1pm, here!

Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs | The Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs As Australia’s federal election campaign has finally begun, opposition leader Peter Dutton’s proposal to spend hundreds of billions in public money to bu...

The technological unfeasibility, staggering cost, and lack of detail of the Coalition’s nuclear proposal have been criticised. What has been underexamined is the negative effects this plan will have on workers.

Read the CFW's @cdwjoyce.bsky.social here:
futurework.org.au/post/duttons...

I wrote about the Coalition's nuclear proposals and why they fail workers. Read it on the @carmichaelcntr.bsky.social website here!

Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think Obviously, the government can’t set wages directly. But research shows recent policies that have increased worker power are associated with strong wage growth.

Why government policy matters for wages growth- research by our Carmichael Centre Distinguished Research Fellow David Peetz shows how IR reforms make a difference.

Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think theconversation.com/yes-governme...

Wages as a share of national income were falling until the Labor government passed the first of its IR bills.

Since then the wages share has mostly been increasing.

theconversation.com/yes-governme...

An important new paper by @davidpeetz.bsky.social that asks:

* how has low wages growth become normalised, even in tight labour markets?

* has government made a difference to wages growth?

futurework.org.au/wp-content/u...

Charts showing the real value of the minimum wage, and what it would be if the FWC had listened to ACCI. Rather than $24.10/hr, it would be $19.87/hr. And rather than be 6.7% higher in value than in 2015 it would be 12% lower.

If business groups had their way, the lowest-paid workers would now be paid $160 a week less.

The FWC should ignore the fears of business groups and give those on awards and the minimum wage a decent pay rise.
@grogsgamut.bsky.social #OffTheCharts
australiainstitute.org.au/post/if-busi...

The Coalition have abandoned their plan to stop public servants working from home, but have they abandoned their views on this flexible work practice? Were these views based on the evidence? See our WFH briefing paper by Fiona Macdonald for the facts on WFH
futurework.org.au/report/worki...

The Continuing Irrelevance of Minimum Wages to Future Inflation | The Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work futurework.org.au/post/the-con...

Our PBS is a national treasure, not an international trade barrier Extraordinary new analysis from The Australia Institute reveals the prices Australians would pay if the US had its way and dismantled our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

“If the price of maintaining our relationship with the US is paying exorbitant prices for medicine, then Australians will ask – is this a friend we really want?” said @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social.

Read:

Labor wants to give the minimum wage a real boost. The benefits would likely outweigh any downsides A real boost to award wages is unlikely to drive up inflation, nor adversely impact productivity. But it would provide cost-of-living relief to Australia’s lowest-paid workers.

An econmomically stable real wage increase is "unlikely to drive up inflation, or adversely impact productivity. ... it will provide cost-of-living relief to Australia’s lowest-paid workers". theconversation.com/labor-wants-...

Election 2025 live: Dutton says he would live in Kirribilli as PM; Bob Brown Foundation to fight salmon farming law in court Follow live

So much for improving publicc service efficiency! Think of all the extra work and travel required to have the PM located in Sydney www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Chart showing that over the past decade, Australia's population has risen around 16% while the number of residential dwellings has increased 19%

This election looks again like seeing migrants blamed for housing prices. But as @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social writes, the facts don't back that up.

At all.

Instead, we need to look at our tax system that has
turned housing into speculation #OffTheCharts

australiainstitute.org.au/post/migrant...

The Coalition are claiming that their cut in fuel excise will be worth $14 per week. But that's only if you fill up once a week. Two thirds of people fill up once a fortnight or less. For them it will be worth less than $7 per week.
australiainstitute.org.au/post/fuel-ex...

The election is underway!

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe explains what's at stake and how we can vote for a better education for every child. 👇

Enemies of the state The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim?

Cutting 41,000 Australian public servants makes no sense and will not lead to greater efficiency. Listen to CFW A/Director Fiona Macdonald discuss with Glenn Connley @australiainstitute.org.au
Enemies of the state - The Australia Institute australiainstitute.org.au/post/enemies...

A win for gender equality as bill passes requiring large organisations to make more progress on their GE targets!
www.wgea.gov.au/newsroom/WGE...

IR reforms producing better pay rises as more workers are on collective agreements.
www.dewr.gov.au/enterprise-a...

CFW budget analysis: what's in the Budget that's important for workers, work and employment? futurework.org.au/post/commonw...