Fair Work Commission to hand down annual wage review on Tuesday
More than 2.6 million low-paid Australian workers could be set for a boost to their pay packets, with the Fair Work Commission just days away from handing down its annual wage review.
The independent body is set to hand down its determination in Sydney on Tuesday, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) pushing for a 4.5 per cent lift in the minimum wage.
This would boost it to $25.18 per hour, lifting the salary for an annual full-time worker by $2143 to $49,770.
The FWC's determination, which will come into affect from July 1, applies to about 2.6 million workers who are not on an existing award or agreement.
The Albanese government has backed an above-inflation increase, beyond 2.4 per cent, however it has not nominated a specific number.
Newly installed Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has previously called for 'an economically responsible real wage increase' while stating that the 'setting of the minimum wage is a matter for the Fair Work Commission'.
'We do need to consider the economic conditions, but we also believe that in those economic conditions, workers deserve a real wage increase,' she said earlier this month.
ACTU boss Sally McManus has recently criticised a call by the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association to lift the minimum wage by 2 per cent, arguing the increase was below inflation and amounted to a real wage cut.
The industry body represents businesses that employ about 500,000 workers and includes major hospitality players like Merivale, Fink Group and Van Haandel.
'Not only does this employer group want to dramatically cut the pay of low-paid workers, but they also have the gall in the next breath to complain that customers then aren't spending enough in their businesses,' she said.
'As far as shooting themselves in the foot, it's a good effort because few local cafe or restaurant owners can afford for ordinary Australians to take a real pay cut.
'It will be their own restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels and bars crying out for people with enough spare cash to go and spend their money there.'
Currently, the minimum wage is $24.10 per hour, which equates to $915.90 or an annual full-time salary of $47,627.06.
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an hour ago
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The key to ending racism? It's right here in these PMs' speeches
Time is the marker of everything. In a civic context, we use time to understand what policies, actions, and even words have changed our lives - for the better or worse, or not at all. This helps us find ways to make our futures safer, healthier, and more just. I want to find a way to a future free of racism. And, at this point in time, I can't help but think of the words of two prime ministers - in speeches delivered half a century apart. First, let's go back to this week in June 1975, when Australia enacted the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). With the White Australia Policy only recently abolished, this was a landmark moment in our history. It was the first Commonwealth law that focused on human rights and discrimination, setting a new vision for Australian society that sought to shake off the racial segregation that had defined it. In a speech at the RDA's proclamation, then prime minister Gough Whitlam said our nation must "spell out in enduring form ... the principle that all Australians, whatever their colour, race or creed, are equal before the law and have the same basic rights and opportunities." But has Whitlam's aspiration to "entrench new attitudes ... in people's hearts and minds" been realised? The answer is yes and no. A legislative framework around racial equality has helped shine a spotlight on employers in workplace discrimination cases, provided remedy pathways for people who've experienced racial hatred, even invalidate laws that discriminated against First Nations peoples, such as the famous case of Mabo v Queensland. It also set a precedent for similar anti-discrimination laws around age, sex, and disability that were passed in the years that followed. Over the past 50 years, we have seen monumental progress in our society, and its shape has changed significantly. These are achievements to remember, to celebrate. But, sadly, racism remains entrenched in many parts of our society. Systems and institutions designed to serve us all are still infected by racist attitudes and practices in place well before the RDA's inception. Racism continues to affect everyday life. People are confronted with it through verbal attacks or left isolated by policies or practices that disadvantage them. This includes people with "foreign sounding" names being less likely to be selected for a job interview or having their work more scrutinised than colleagues; over-policing in some communities; and cultural biases within the medical system that can prevent people of colour receiving the same standards of care as everyone else. First Nations people still suffer the fundamental racism of a denial of self-determination. This has consistently been confirmed by consultation, research, and work led by advocacy groups. The work of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirms it too. There is no doubt that urgent reform is needed. And, half a century since Whitlam's address, a speech by another Prime Minister - our current one - touched on what I believe will help drive the solution. In his election victory speech last month, Anthony Albanese spoke of what he believed were the Australian values the majority of people had voted for. "For the strength," he said, "to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need". Courage and kindness. For me, this has always been at the heart of who are - or who we should aspire to be. Reform takes courage. It takes kindness. Changing systems and institutions to eliminate racism requires our leaders to take courage. In November last year, I released the National Anti-Racism Framework, a roadmap for widespread government-led reform to defeat racism in 10 years. Its 63 recommendations take a whole-of-society approach to eliminating racism, across our legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as for businesses. Courage and kindness could manifest in action by the government supporting these recommendations. This would see the principles of the RDA truly realised. But after 50 years, the RDA also needs an update. One of the framework's proposed changes is introducing a legal responsibility on employers to proactively prevent racism in the workplace. Similar to the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act, it means taking reasonable steps to eliminate racism, rather than only reacting once a complaint is made. Kindness is recognising privilege and the advantages bestowed by race. It means having difficult but respectful conversations, listening to uncomfortable truths without defensiveness, and finding ways to move forward together. Kindness is one of the greatest examples of strength one could show. In 50 years' time, when people look back at this moment, I hope it's seen as another landmark moment when we made an active commitment to implementing the framework to eliminate racism. The moment our leaders and community had the courage to choose dignity, respect and fairness - to ensure we are all truly equal with the same rights and opportunities. Time is the marker of everything. In a civic context, we use time to understand what policies, actions, and even words have changed our lives - for the better or worse, or not at all. This helps us find ways to make our futures safer, healthier, and more just. I want to find a way to a future free of racism. And, at this point in time, I can't help but think of the words of two prime ministers - in speeches delivered half a century apart. First, let's go back to this week in June 1975, when Australia enacted the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). With the White Australia Policy only recently abolished, this was a landmark moment in our history. It was the first Commonwealth law that focused on human rights and discrimination, setting a new vision for Australian society that sought to shake off the racial segregation that had defined it. In a speech at the RDA's proclamation, then prime minister Gough Whitlam said our nation must "spell out in enduring form ... the principle that all Australians, whatever their colour, race or creed, are equal before the law and have the same basic rights and opportunities." But has Whitlam's aspiration to "entrench new attitudes ... in people's hearts and minds" been realised? The answer is yes and no. A legislative framework around racial equality has helped shine a spotlight on employers in workplace discrimination cases, provided remedy pathways for people who've experienced racial hatred, even invalidate laws that discriminated against First Nations peoples, such as the famous case of Mabo v Queensland. It also set a precedent for similar anti-discrimination laws around age, sex, and disability that were passed in the years that followed. Over the past 50 years, we have seen monumental progress in our society, and its shape has changed significantly. These are achievements to remember, to celebrate. But, sadly, racism remains entrenched in many parts of our society. Systems and institutions designed to serve us all are still infected by racist attitudes and practices in place well before the RDA's inception. Racism continues to affect everyday life. People are confronted with it through verbal attacks or left isolated by policies or practices that disadvantage them. This includes people with "foreign sounding" names being less likely to be selected for a job interview or having their work more scrutinised than colleagues; over-policing in some communities; and cultural biases within the medical system that can prevent people of colour receiving the same standards of care as everyone else. First Nations people still suffer the fundamental racism of a denial of self-determination. This has consistently been confirmed by consultation, research, and work led by advocacy groups. The work of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirms it too. There is no doubt that urgent reform is needed. And, half a century since Whitlam's address, a speech by another Prime Minister - our current one - touched on what I believe will help drive the solution. In his election victory speech last month, Anthony Albanese spoke of what he believed were the Australian values the majority of people had voted for. "For the strength," he said, "to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need". Courage and kindness. For me, this has always been at the heart of who are - or who we should aspire to be. Reform takes courage. It takes kindness. Changing systems and institutions to eliminate racism requires our leaders to take courage. In November last year, I released the National Anti-Racism Framework, a roadmap for widespread government-led reform to defeat racism in 10 years. Its 63 recommendations take a whole-of-society approach to eliminating racism, across our legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as for businesses. Courage and kindness could manifest in action by the government supporting these recommendations. This would see the principles of the RDA truly realised. But after 50 years, the RDA also needs an update. One of the framework's proposed changes is introducing a legal responsibility on employers to proactively prevent racism in the workplace. Similar to the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act, it means taking reasonable steps to eliminate racism, rather than only reacting once a complaint is made. Kindness is recognising privilege and the advantages bestowed by race. It means having difficult but respectful conversations, listening to uncomfortable truths without defensiveness, and finding ways to move forward together. Kindness is one of the greatest examples of strength one could show. In 50 years' time, when people look back at this moment, I hope it's seen as another landmark moment when we made an active commitment to implementing the framework to eliminate racism. The moment our leaders and community had the courage to choose dignity, respect and fairness - to ensure we are all truly equal with the same rights and opportunities. Time is the marker of everything. In a civic context, we use time to understand what policies, actions, and even words have changed our lives - for the better or worse, or not at all. This helps us find ways to make our futures safer, healthier, and more just. I want to find a way to a future free of racism. And, at this point in time, I can't help but think of the words of two prime ministers - in speeches delivered half a century apart. First, let's go back to this week in June 1975, when Australia enacted the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). With the White Australia Policy only recently abolished, this was a landmark moment in our history. It was the first Commonwealth law that focused on human rights and discrimination, setting a new vision for Australian society that sought to shake off the racial segregation that had defined it. In a speech at the RDA's proclamation, then prime minister Gough Whitlam said our nation must "spell out in enduring form ... the principle that all Australians, whatever their colour, race or creed, are equal before the law and have the same basic rights and opportunities." But has Whitlam's aspiration to "entrench new attitudes ... in people's hearts and minds" been realised? The answer is yes and no. A legislative framework around racial equality has helped shine a spotlight on employers in workplace discrimination cases, provided remedy pathways for people who've experienced racial hatred, even invalidate laws that discriminated against First Nations peoples, such as the famous case of Mabo v Queensland. It also set a precedent for similar anti-discrimination laws around age, sex, and disability that were passed in the years that followed. Over the past 50 years, we have seen monumental progress in our society, and its shape has changed significantly. These are achievements to remember, to celebrate. But, sadly, racism remains entrenched in many parts of our society. Systems and institutions designed to serve us all are still infected by racist attitudes and practices in place well before the RDA's inception. Racism continues to affect everyday life. People are confronted with it through verbal attacks or left isolated by policies or practices that disadvantage them. This includes people with "foreign sounding" names being less likely to be selected for a job interview or having their work more scrutinised than colleagues; over-policing in some communities; and cultural biases within the medical system that can prevent people of colour receiving the same standards of care as everyone else. First Nations people still suffer the fundamental racism of a denial of self-determination. This has consistently been confirmed by consultation, research, and work led by advocacy groups. The work of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirms it too. There is no doubt that urgent reform is needed. And, half a century since Whitlam's address, a speech by another Prime Minister - our current one - touched on what I believe will help drive the solution. In his election victory speech last month, Anthony Albanese spoke of what he believed were the Australian values the majority of people had voted for. "For the strength," he said, "to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need". Courage and kindness. For me, this has always been at the heart of who are - or who we should aspire to be. Reform takes courage. It takes kindness. Changing systems and institutions to eliminate racism requires our leaders to take courage. In November last year, I released the National Anti-Racism Framework, a roadmap for widespread government-led reform to defeat racism in 10 years. Its 63 recommendations take a whole-of-society approach to eliminating racism, across our legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as for businesses. Courage and kindness could manifest in action by the government supporting these recommendations. This would see the principles of the RDA truly realised. But after 50 years, the RDA also needs an update. One of the framework's proposed changes is introducing a legal responsibility on employers to proactively prevent racism in the workplace. Similar to the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act, it means taking reasonable steps to eliminate racism, rather than only reacting once a complaint is made. Kindness is recognising privilege and the advantages bestowed by race. It means having difficult but respectful conversations, listening to uncomfortable truths without defensiveness, and finding ways to move forward together. Kindness is one of the greatest examples of strength one could show. In 50 years' time, when people look back at this moment, I hope it's seen as another landmark moment when we made an active commitment to implementing the framework to eliminate racism. The moment our leaders and community had the courage to choose dignity, respect and fairness - to ensure we are all truly equal with the same rights and opportunities. Time is the marker of everything. In a civic context, we use time to understand what policies, actions, and even words have changed our lives - for the better or worse, or not at all. This helps us find ways to make our futures safer, healthier, and more just. I want to find a way to a future free of racism. And, at this point in time, I can't help but think of the words of two prime ministers - in speeches delivered half a century apart. First, let's go back to this week in June 1975, when Australia enacted the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). With the White Australia Policy only recently abolished, this was a landmark moment in our history. It was the first Commonwealth law that focused on human rights and discrimination, setting a new vision for Australian society that sought to shake off the racial segregation that had defined it. In a speech at the RDA's proclamation, then prime minister Gough Whitlam said our nation must "spell out in enduring form ... the principle that all Australians, whatever their colour, race or creed, are equal before the law and have the same basic rights and opportunities." But has Whitlam's aspiration to "entrench new attitudes ... in people's hearts and minds" been realised? The answer is yes and no. A legislative framework around racial equality has helped shine a spotlight on employers in workplace discrimination cases, provided remedy pathways for people who've experienced racial hatred, even invalidate laws that discriminated against First Nations peoples, such as the famous case of Mabo v Queensland. It also set a precedent for similar anti-discrimination laws around age, sex, and disability that were passed in the years that followed. Over the past 50 years, we have seen monumental progress in our society, and its shape has changed significantly. These are achievements to remember, to celebrate. But, sadly, racism remains entrenched in many parts of our society. Systems and institutions designed to serve us all are still infected by racist attitudes and practices in place well before the RDA's inception. Racism continues to affect everyday life. People are confronted with it through verbal attacks or left isolated by policies or practices that disadvantage them. This includes people with "foreign sounding" names being less likely to be selected for a job interview or having their work more scrutinised than colleagues; over-policing in some communities; and cultural biases within the medical system that can prevent people of colour receiving the same standards of care as everyone else. First Nations people still suffer the fundamental racism of a denial of self-determination. This has consistently been confirmed by consultation, research, and work led by advocacy groups. The work of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirms it too. There is no doubt that urgent reform is needed. And, half a century since Whitlam's address, a speech by another Prime Minister - our current one - touched on what I believe will help drive the solution. In his election victory speech last month, Anthony Albanese spoke of what he believed were the Australian values the majority of people had voted for. "For the strength," he said, "to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need". Courage and kindness. For me, this has always been at the heart of who are - or who we should aspire to be. Reform takes courage. It takes kindness. Changing systems and institutions to eliminate racism requires our leaders to take courage. In November last year, I released the National Anti-Racism Framework, a roadmap for widespread government-led reform to defeat racism in 10 years. Its 63 recommendations take a whole-of-society approach to eliminating racism, across our legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as for businesses. Courage and kindness could manifest in action by the government supporting these recommendations. This would see the principles of the RDA truly realised. But after 50 years, the RDA also needs an update. One of the framework's proposed changes is introducing a legal responsibility on employers to proactively prevent racism in the workplace. Similar to the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act, it means taking reasonable steps to eliminate racism, rather than only reacting once a complaint is made. Kindness is recognising privilege and the advantages bestowed by race. It means having difficult but respectful conversations, listening to uncomfortable truths without defensiveness, and finding ways to move forward together. Kindness is one of the greatest examples of strength one could show. In 50 years' time, when people look back at this moment, I hope it's seen as another landmark moment when we made an active commitment to implementing the framework to eliminate racism. The moment our leaders and community had the courage to choose dignity, respect and fairness - to ensure we are all truly equal with the same rights and opportunities.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Partial tick': coalition cautious on PM's summit idea
The federal opposition has given the government a partial tick over its upcoming productivity summit, saying that at least Labor recognises there is a problem. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the gathering of business, union and other leaders in Canberra in August would focus on ways to lift economic output. "A round table. Yay!" shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program on Wednesday. "But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick." Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging rate of productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Despite criticism that previous federal government economic summits were too slanted, Mr Albanese said this roundtable would be broad-based. He called for a mature discussion from all parties, noting it was in everyone's interest for productivity to improve. "We're a Labor government, we support unions existing ... but we will always respect both the role of business and the role of unions," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday. "There are common interests ... you don't get union members unless you've got successful employers. "It's the private sector that drives an economy. What the public sector should do is facilitate private sector activity and private sector investment." The Productivity Commissioner's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. The Business Council of Australia says productivity growth over the past decade has been the lowest in 60 years. Council chief executive Bran Black welcomed the roundtable, saying "lifting business investment is essential to boosting productivity, lifting real wages, creating jobs and ensuring more opportunity for more Australians". "We will continue to be very clear about policies that the business community believes will be counterproductive to improving productivity," he said. Mr Albanese said he wanted a boost to productivity, alongside other economic indicators as part of his second-term agenda. "We want to build an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together," he said. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said working Australians must be at the centre of the roundtable. "We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less," she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said boosting productivity was essential for economic growth. "The business community looks forward to participating in the summit and contributing constructive and sensible ideas to address the problem," he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by four-tenths of a percentage point to 2.3 per cent. The downgrade was driven by higher US tariffs on foreign imports and heightened uncertainty posed a "significant headwind" for nearly all economies. The World Bank is the latest body to cut its growth forecast as a result of President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies. But it stopped short of forecasting a recession, despite predicting global economic growth this year would be the weakest outside of a recession since 2008. with Reuters The federal opposition has given the government a partial tick over its upcoming productivity summit, saying that at least Labor recognises there is a problem. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the gathering of business, union and other leaders in Canberra in August would focus on ways to lift economic output. "A round table. Yay!" shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program on Wednesday. "But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick." Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging rate of productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Despite criticism that previous federal government economic summits were too slanted, Mr Albanese said this roundtable would be broad-based. He called for a mature discussion from all parties, noting it was in everyone's interest for productivity to improve. "We're a Labor government, we support unions existing ... but we will always respect both the role of business and the role of unions," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday. "There are common interests ... you don't get union members unless you've got successful employers. "It's the private sector that drives an economy. What the public sector should do is facilitate private sector activity and private sector investment." The Productivity Commissioner's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. The Business Council of Australia says productivity growth over the past decade has been the lowest in 60 years. Council chief executive Bran Black welcomed the roundtable, saying "lifting business investment is essential to boosting productivity, lifting real wages, creating jobs and ensuring more opportunity for more Australians". "We will continue to be very clear about policies that the business community believes will be counterproductive to improving productivity," he said. Mr Albanese said he wanted a boost to productivity, alongside other economic indicators as part of his second-term agenda. "We want to build an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together," he said. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said working Australians must be at the centre of the roundtable. "We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less," she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said boosting productivity was essential for economic growth. "The business community looks forward to participating in the summit and contributing constructive and sensible ideas to address the problem," he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by four-tenths of a percentage point to 2.3 per cent. The downgrade was driven by higher US tariffs on foreign imports and heightened uncertainty posed a "significant headwind" for nearly all economies. The World Bank is the latest body to cut its growth forecast as a result of President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies. But it stopped short of forecasting a recession, despite predicting global economic growth this year would be the weakest outside of a recession since 2008. with Reuters The federal opposition has given the government a partial tick over its upcoming productivity summit, saying that at least Labor recognises there is a problem. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the gathering of business, union and other leaders in Canberra in August would focus on ways to lift economic output. "A round table. Yay!" shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program on Wednesday. "But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick." Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging rate of productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Despite criticism that previous federal government economic summits were too slanted, Mr Albanese said this roundtable would be broad-based. He called for a mature discussion from all parties, noting it was in everyone's interest for productivity to improve. "We're a Labor government, we support unions existing ... but we will always respect both the role of business and the role of unions," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday. "There are common interests ... you don't get union members unless you've got successful employers. "It's the private sector that drives an economy. What the public sector should do is facilitate private sector activity and private sector investment." The Productivity Commissioner's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. The Business Council of Australia says productivity growth over the past decade has been the lowest in 60 years. Council chief executive Bran Black welcomed the roundtable, saying "lifting business investment is essential to boosting productivity, lifting real wages, creating jobs and ensuring more opportunity for more Australians". "We will continue to be very clear about policies that the business community believes will be counterproductive to improving productivity," he said. Mr Albanese said he wanted a boost to productivity, alongside other economic indicators as part of his second-term agenda. "We want to build an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together," he said. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said working Australians must be at the centre of the roundtable. "We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less," she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said boosting productivity was essential for economic growth. "The business community looks forward to participating in the summit and contributing constructive and sensible ideas to address the problem," he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by four-tenths of a percentage point to 2.3 per cent. The downgrade was driven by higher US tariffs on foreign imports and heightened uncertainty posed a "significant headwind" for nearly all economies. The World Bank is the latest body to cut its growth forecast as a result of President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies. But it stopped short of forecasting a recession, despite predicting global economic growth this year would be the weakest outside of a recession since 2008. with Reuters The federal opposition has given the government a partial tick over its upcoming productivity summit, saying that at least Labor recognises there is a problem. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the gathering of business, union and other leaders in Canberra in August would focus on ways to lift economic output. "A round table. Yay!" shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program on Wednesday. "But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick." Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging rate of productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Despite criticism that previous federal government economic summits were too slanted, Mr Albanese said this roundtable would be broad-based. He called for a mature discussion from all parties, noting it was in everyone's interest for productivity to improve. "We're a Labor government, we support unions existing ... but we will always respect both the role of business and the role of unions," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday. "There are common interests ... you don't get union members unless you've got successful employers. "It's the private sector that drives an economy. What the public sector should do is facilitate private sector activity and private sector investment." The Productivity Commissioner's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. The Business Council of Australia says productivity growth over the past decade has been the lowest in 60 years. Council chief executive Bran Black welcomed the roundtable, saying "lifting business investment is essential to boosting productivity, lifting real wages, creating jobs and ensuring more opportunity for more Australians". "We will continue to be very clear about policies that the business community believes will be counterproductive to improving productivity," he said. Mr Albanese said he wanted a boost to productivity, alongside other economic indicators as part of his second-term agenda. "We want to build an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together," he said. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said working Australians must be at the centre of the roundtable. "We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less," she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said boosting productivity was essential for economic growth. "The business community looks forward to participating in the summit and contributing constructive and sensible ideas to address the problem," he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by four-tenths of a percentage point to 2.3 per cent. The downgrade was driven by higher US tariffs on foreign imports and heightened uncertainty posed a "significant headwind" for nearly all economies. The World Bank is the latest body to cut its growth forecast as a result of President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies. But it stopped short of forecasting a recession, despite predicting global economic growth this year would be the weakest outside of a recession since 2008. with Reuters
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on how he will handle meeting Donald Trump
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said.
