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