26 May 2020 / COVID-19

National Press Club Address

Scott Morrison has just spoken at National Press Club and announced the following (in particular around skills / training and industrial relations):

  • Treasury forecasting 850,000 jobs restored once 3 step plan completed by states / territories
  • Budget later this year is part of the “reset” for the economy and it will be one of the most challenging ones seen
  • Consumer confidence climbed back to 80% in past 8 weeks since the dramatic fall
  • Introducing ‘JobMaker’ plan to restore jobs – based on liberal principles
  • Guided by principles to secure Australia’s future and put people first in our economy

Main areas of ‘JobMaker’:

  • We will remain an outward looking, open and sovereign trading economy
    • We will be part of global supply chains that deliver prosperity for jobs, income and business building
    • We will ensure out industries are highly competitive, resilient and able to succeed in a global market
    • Caring for country
  • Responsible management and stewardship to sustainably manage inheritance for future generations (not borrow from the future)
  • Governments must live within their means so debt isn’t piled on future generations
  • Must leverage and build on our skills – modern competitive advanced manufacturing / agriculture / financial / research / technology sectors
  • Opportunity in Australia for those who have a go to get a go
  • Doing “what makes the boat go faster” – skilled labour

PM’s focus today on skills and industrial relations:

  • Complexity of a vocational training system that is clunky and unresponsive to skills demand
    • Lack of clear information on what the skills needs are now and into the future
    • Funding system with inconsistencies and little accountability on results
    • 1400 qualifications / 17,000 units of competencies and wide range of student fees / subsidies across the country
    • The Gov’t has embarked on a range of skills organisation pilots designed for industry to take responsibility for (3 trials so far for human services, digital technology and mining)
    • National Skills Commission has been established – will provide real time data, trends, reporting, analysis and helping students with their career and training via National Careers Institute (based on skills gaps in industries etc)
    • Current funding from the Commonwealth flawed ($1.5 billion untied) on existing programs with no end date, no requirements etc
    • Simplifying system, achieving greater consistency, increasing funding and transparency and performance monitoring, better coordination of loans, subsidies and funding – must go where it needs to go – national pricing and activity based funding models (as used by the National Hospitals System)
  • Genuinely heartened of constructive approach from employers, employees, unions and ACTU to find practical solutions to keep Australians in jobs
    • Current system is not fit for purpose – scale of jobs challenge we face
    • IR system settled in to complacency – unions seeking …
    • System lost sight of its purpose – need to get it right so businesses can succeed
    • System retreated to tribalism, conflict and ideology posturing
    • Must change or more Australians will lose their jobs – or kept out of jobs
  • This process is expected to run through to September – make use of time we have and get through it quickly
  • Participation of the groups is being invited without prejudice for good honest cooperation
  • Explore and hopefully find a pathway to sensible reform – one goal – make jobs and maximise genuine opportunity and cooperation that is vital to create jobs and return to economic prosperity

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10 October / Update

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.

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