Senator Bob Day argues against removing the dole for youth without making them employable in this interview conducted by Alan Jones on 2GB (18/8). The problem is the Rudd and Gillard governments foolishly pushed wages and conditions to such a level that employers are unwilling to employ young people especially those with limited skills. It seems that Labors policy and that of the trade union bosses is to prefer to have young people on the dole than in jobs. Terrified by their experience with WorkChoices , the Liberals are today reluctant to introduce the necessary reforms to encourage employers to employ the young and potential investors to stay in Australia. Only an independent politician with experience and common sense, and who isnt in it rolled the lurks – Senator Bob Day falls precisely into that category – is able to speak honestly on these matters. More importantly he can suggest a solution. The facts are obvious. In purchasing power terms, Australia’s minimum wage — increased to $16.87 an hour for permanent workers and $21.09 for casuals — is at least 25 per cent higher than in the other Anglophone countries, reported Adam Creighton in The Weekend Australian (16/08). And thats without mentioning the various generous conditions associated with employment. High minimum wages, as a matter of logic not opinion, price many low-skilled and younger workers out of the job market. Britain’s economy created 691,000 new jobs last year while Australia’s, with more than a third the population, created only 100,000. Britain’s jobs boom is in part due to its more flexible labour market, including a minimum wage of £6.31 (A$11.29). By the way ,the US minimum wage is US $7.25 (A$7,78) The politicians failure to deal with the problem of pricing out manufacturing and jobs in Australia is becoming more serious According to a report in the Australian Financial Review (18/08) by Jessica Gardner, the Australian-listed biotechnology group CSL will build a new manufacturing facility in a high cost Switzerland rather than Australia. Its to produce a product developed in Australia. It will be worth $A500m and bring 500 new local jobs. The company points out that like many other companies it is being forced to choose the overseas option as the taxation regime is more beneficial, labour productivity higher and government backing for patents greater. The average company tax rate in Switzerland of 18% is far lower than the 30% in Australia. The lack of support for the commercialising of intellectual property has also been pointed out by CSL in its submission to the Federal Governments innovation review. Yet another reason to make our politicians truly accountable. Senator Bob Day is showing what common sense, experience and a disinterest in the lurks of office can do. It is of course the powerbrokers who stop people like Bob Day being preselected 2gb/article/alan-jones-senator-bob-day#.U_FIE9Z
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 01:17:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015