Launch of the 2024 Child Social Exclusion Report, Parliament House, Canberra

Source: Australian Treasurer

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of these lands, and pay respects to all First Nations people present.

Thank you Claerwen for the warm introduction and to Aunty Violet Sheridan for your Welcome to Country. I also acknowledge the many researchers and policy advocates here and the work you all do to create a fairer Australia.

Thank you to UnitingCare for inviting me here today to celebrate the 2024 Child Social Exclusion Index Report. The report is a collaboration between University of Canberra researchers and UnitingCare, which has worked for over 100 years to support vulnerable Australians and advocate for social justice.

Tackling disadvantage is at the heart of our government’s vision for Australia (Albanese, 2022), and one of the most important challenges of our time.

It is a topic I have been focused on since my university days. The title of my 2004 PhD thesis was ‘Essays in Poverty and Inequality’, a set of issues that I expanded on in my 2013 book: ‘Battlers and Billionaires: The Story of Inequality in Australia’.

Tackling inequality and exclusion must start with robust data and statistics. That is what this report does. It extends the concept of poverty to measure social and material disadvantage, and highlights the geographical areas facing high levels of child social exclusion. I congratulate you on the report, and your contribution to a long and rich tradition in the social sciences.

It is a history which says we must start with robust statistics to transform disadvantage. It shows that data‑driven indices and maps can create change significant social change. It is this tradition that I am going to focus on today, and which I hope inspires you, as you consider the findings of the report.

Booth’s poverty maps: a global influence

In the late 19th century, Charles Booth undertook one of the best‑known attempts to systematically measure the number of people in poverty and map their distribution.

His Inquiry [into the Life and Labour of the People in London] saw house‑to‑house surveys take place across London for over almost 20 years, from 1886 to 1903. Participants were asked diverse questions about their living and working conditions; the impacts of migration; the organisation of trade and industry; religious life; women’s employment; and leisure activities (London School of Economics, 2016).

One of the most highly publicised findings was that over 30 per cent of London’s population was poor (Himmelfarb, 1984). Booth articulated a ‘line of poverty’ and showed the distribution of people living above and below it on a series of maps.

The empirical insights, data‑laden tables and social cartography in Booth’s reports changed the game. For the first time, an evidence base was established to translate ‘the ungraspable problem of poverty into a measurable social issue’. This was a starting point for significant social change (Vaughan, 2018).

The impact was profound, changing the public debate on poverty. This new social science evidence challenged the general view that poverty was an individual failing and could only be countered by personal change (Glennerster et al, 2004). Instead, it became clear that individuals and families faced a range of economy‑wide risks. Poverty could not simply be insured against through private or collective means (Glennerster et al, 2004).

The social science methods used by Booth reverberated across England and around the world, influencing social mapping projects from York to Chicago and Philadelphia (Vaughn, 2018).

Booth’s work and influence eventually led to government interventions such as national insurance and old age pensions (Vaughan, 2018).

Poverty and exclusion data in Australia

Booth’s thinking soon came to Australian shores. In 1891 The Melbourne Leader reported that the figures and classifications from Booth’s study in London could be applied in other major cities, including Melbourne and Sydney. It was indeed picked up in 1902 by Labour Commissioners in New South Wales who used Booth’s classification to sort unemployed people into six classes (Macintyre, 1985).

We should by no means look back at Booth’s categorisations through rose‑tinted glasses. They were ‘described and even defined as much in moral as in economic terms’ (Himmelfarb, 1984).

However, it was not until Ronald Henderson’s major 1966 study of poverty in Melbourne that Australia saw ‘the first systematic attempt at measuring poverty’ (Melbourne Institute, 2024). Henderson went on to chair the Commission of Inquiry into Poverty in 1972, which established an Australian poverty line, and investigated its multidimensional nature.

The report being launched today – the 2024 Child Social Exclusion Index – builds on this rich history. It extends the concept of poverty to measure social and material disadvantage and understand the risk of social exclusion, specifically for Australian children. The findings show where child social exclusion is highly prevalent, providing an important contribution and starting point for developing solutions.

Our government shares the same commitment to quality statistics and analysis to shift the dial on disadvantage. We have invested $16.4 million over 4 years in the Australian Bureau of Statistics to lead the Life Course Data Initiative. This four‑year pilot program is part of the Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage package, which was announced in the 2023–24 Budget. The package has a strong focus on intergenerational disadvantage and improving child and family wellbeing.

The Life Course Data Initiative will create an integrated data asset, based on the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA) and will create data insights to inform long‑term policy responses to address entrenched place‑based disadvantage. The Initiative will also enable community access to data. The is expected to help researchers and policymakers understand how communities experience disadvantage. This will help guide local decision making and better direct funding.

Our government has also established the Australian Centre for Evaluation in the Treasury to develop our understanding of what interventions work, and what can work better. It hopes to improve the volume, quality and impact of evaluations across the Australian Public Service.

To drive higher quality evaluations, the Australian Centre for Evaluation is partnering with departments and agencies to conduct flagship evaluations on agreed priorities. The first partnership is with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, using randomised trials to evaluate different features of online employment services. The Centre also supports agencies to build their capabilities and prepare their own evaluations, multiplying the volume and quality of evaluations APS‑wide.

Conclusion

Reports like the one being launched this morning are essential. The insights help to provide granularity and an empirical evidence base for change. This will help to develop solutions to tackle child social exclusion.

Lessons from the history of social surveys and cartography show that empirical studies like yours can create the foundations for social change. They can pinpoint need and show where we our efforts should be targeted to make a positive difference.

Tackling child social exclusion and disadvantage is a challenge that we face together. A shared understanding of its nature is a vital foundation for collaboration. Thank you for your contribution.

References

Albanese, as cited in Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2022) ‘Read incoming prime minister Anthony Albanese’s full speech after Labor wins federal election’, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 May 2022, accessed 24 March 2024.

Glennerster H, Hills J, Piachaud D and Webb J (2004) ‘One hundred years of poverty and policy’, p27–28, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Himmelfarb G (1984) ‘The Idea of Poverty: England in the Early Industrial Age’, p530, New York: Vintage Books.

London School of Economics (2016) ‘Charles Booth’s London: Poverty Maps and Police Notebooks – What was the Inquiry?’, accessed 24 March 2024.

Macintyre S (1985) ‘Winners and losers: the pursuit of social justice in Australian history’, Sydney: George Allen & Unwin.

The Melbourne Leader (1891) ‘Review’, Saturday 26 September 1891, p38, The Melbourne Leader, Melbourne, Victoria, accessed 24 March 2024.

Vaughan L (2018) ‘Charles Booth and the mapping of poverty’, Mapping Society: The Spatial Dimensions of Social Cartography (pp. 61–92), UCL Press.

Vaughan, L (2018) ‘Poverty mapping after Charles Booth’, Mapping Society: The Spatial Dimensions of Social Cartography (pp. 93–128), UCL Press.

NSW Government invests $1.5 million in TAFE NSW Lithgow

Source: New South Wales Premiere

This investment is part of a $300 million statewide program delivering upgraded facilities and equipment to 120 TAFE NSW campuses across the state by June 2024.

Carpentry will be offered at TAFE NSW Lithgow for the first time in 2024, with an $80,000 investment towards a workshop for carpentry apprentices. A further $119,000 has been allocated to new equipment for welding and metal fabrication courses.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steven Whan said these facilities will help meet the growing demand for construction and manufacturing workers in the region.

“TAFE NSW is providing learners with the skills needed for the next generation of construction and manufacturing workers in Lithgow.

“Construction and manufacturing are 2 of the top 5 most in-demand industries in the region and the NSW Government is investing in TAFE NSW to provide the facilities, training, and industry standard equipment to meet this workforce demand,” Mr Whan said.

With the demand for construction courses increasing across Western Sydney, Mr Whan said the creation of a construction hub at TAFE NSW Lithgow would save local students significant travel time to surrounding campuses.

“Local students won’t need to travel up to 40 minutes to Bathurst or 1.5 hours to Nirimba to complete their carpentry course. With our investment in the assets here at TAFE NSW Lithgow, we’re establishing Lithgow as a hub for industry and manufacturing,” he said.

TAFE NSW is also partnered with local employers, Thales, Energy Australia, and Centennial Coal to deliver training to apprentices through its Skills Centre. Skills Centre students get accelerated learning in their trade as well as developing foundational knowledge in a range of other trade skill sets, boosting their versatility as workers, and improving job prospects.

“Through our investment in TAFE NSW, the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering a workforce with the skills Lithgow needs,” Mr Whan said.

Shoppers urged to show respect to retail workers ahead of Easter rush

Source: New South Wales Premiere

A 2023 survey of more than 4600 retail workers reported 87% of workers experienced verbal abuse from a customer, 12.5% reporting physical violence, and 52% reporting they had the same customer act abusive or violent on more than one occasion.

Workplace violence can be via a threat or action which causes either physical or psychological harm or injury.

In the retail industry workplace, this includes intimidating behavior which creates a fear of violence such as verbal threats, throwing objects or shoving, spitting or other physical contact.

Retailers should have systems and policies in place to help staff respond when faced with violence and aggression from customers.

SafeWork NSW is continuing to respond to an incident on February 18 where a 64-year-old worker was allegedly assaulted at a supermarket in Western Sydney. While NSW Police are investigating matters related to alleged criminal conduct, SafeWork NSW are reviewing the incident to see if there are breaches of WHS laws.

Tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers were introduced by the NSW Government last year with some offences receiving a maximum penalty of 11 years.

For further advice and resources relating to safety in the retail trade please visit the SafeWork website.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, said:

“Easter is a great time of the year – it’s a major religious event, a public holiday and a major shopping opportunity for people of this state who are preparing for community celebrations, hosting guests at home or just trying to get away for a break.

“Let’s all remember – the people who are serving you this Easter are from our local community and they are the relatives of the people who live and work around you.

“If 1 person gets agitated while shopping it is hard enough on staff members, but when you are dealing with hundreds of customers a day the agitation absorbed by front line workers accumulates.

“Whatever pressure you may feel when going shopping please respect every retail worker who serves you.

“Retail workers have the right to feel safe when they go to work and there are now strong laws in place to protect them.”

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, said:

“Workers’ compensation data over the last 3 years shows us most claims in the retail sector are made by sales assistants at fuel retailers, supermarkets and retail department stores – and around 60% are made by female workers.

“We are asking customers to maintain appropriate behavior when interacting with retail workers, and to have a little patience and understanding this Easter. We are asking employers and managers to notify SafeWork NSW of any incidence of violence in the workplace.”

Secretary of SDA NSW, Bernie Smith, said:

“Customer abuse is rife in Australian shopping centres, with 87% of workers being subjected to abuse including physical violence, with 1 in 10 reporting being spat on. This must change. Everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

“We ask customers to stop, reflect and do the right thing in shops this Easter so everyone including retail workers can feel safe and celebrate this special time.”

CEO Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, said:

“This Easter, in NSW, criminals will face jail time if they assault or harass our frontline workers.”

“No one deserves to be spat on, threatened with weapons, intimidated or harassed for simply doing their job. So let’s shop up big this Easter but let’s shop respectfully.”

Complete land management survey and support the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Source: New South Wales Premiere

Landholders who submit a survey will also be supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service with LLS to make a donation for each survey completed.

Previous survey results have played an important role shaping the programs, projects and planning of Western Local Land Services to ensure its meeting the needs of landholders across Western NSW as well as identify regional trends.

Some of the interesting findings from the 2020 survey include:

  • 15,000 hectares — average property size
  • 340km — average distance to the closest market for farm products
  • 88% — of landholders experienced issues with pest animals.

In addition to the Regional Landholder Survey, Western Local Land Services is calling for input into its Aboriginal Community Survey, with results to be used to inform the delivery of future projects and programs.

The Regional Landholder Survey can be completed online via Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey

The Aboriginal Community Survey will be completed via a hardcopy form at organised community events.  

The surveys take approximately 60 minutes to complete and results will be pooled so participants cannot be identified.

For more information, contact Sam Field on 0427 256 501 or sam.field@lls.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“These surveys are an opportunity for western NSW farmers and land holders to have a say in shaping the services and support provided by the NSW Government.

“They are also a way for aboriginal communities to add their voice to shaping projects and programs across the Western Local Land Services region.

“Landholders also have the added incentive of knowing they can complete a survey and it supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

“I encourage western NSW communities to get involved and complete the Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey today.”

New legislation to strengthen financial system and boost investment in cleaner cheaper, energy

Source: Australian Treasurer

The Albanese Government will today introduce legislation to maximise the economic opportunities of cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy and strengthen Australia’s financial system.

These new laws will modernise our financial system, provide greater information and clarity to investors, and incentivise investment in the net zero transformation.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and other measures) Bill which will be introduced today, will implement two important reforms – new mandatory climate reporting requirements for big companies and a new regime to protect our financial market infrastructure in the event of a crisis.

Climate reporting

After a decade of delay and denial under the Coalition, we’re taking action on climate reporting to support more investment in cheaper and cleaner energy and help companies and investors manage climate risks.

This legislation will introduce standardised, internationally‑aligned reporting requirements for businesses, to ensure they are making high quality climate‑related financial disclosures.

Our changes will establish Australia’s climate risk disclosure framework, giving investors and companies the transparency, clarity and certainty they need to invest in new opportunities as part of the net zero transformation.

A rigorous, internationally‑aligned and credible climate disclosure regime will support Australia’s reputation as an attractive destination for international capital and incentivise investment in the energy transformation.

Reporting requirements will commence from 1 January 2025 for Australia’s largest listed and unlisted companies and financial institutions and other large businesses will be phased in over time.

Financial market infrastructure

The legislation also includes reforms to strengthen regulatory arrangements for Australia’s financial market infrastructure.

These reforms address a gap in our financial system regulatory arrangements and implement an important and longstanding recommendation of the Council of Financial Regulators.

The legislation will allow the RBA to step in and quickly resolve crises impacting critical financial market infrastructure and strengthens the RBA and ASIC’s regulatory powers.

It will also ensure continuity of clearing and settlement services in the face of a crisis.

Whether it’s climate disclosures, financial markets, or many of our other important changes, the Albanese Government has a broad and ambitious economic reform agenda.

Our economic reform agenda is all about modernising our economy and providing more certainty for more investment in Australia, and that’s what this legislation will deliver.

Applications now open for $500 million Housing Support Program

Source: Australian Treasurer

The Australian Government’s $500 million Housing Support Program is now open for applications from state, territory and local governments for projects that will boost the planning required to increase housing supply.

Stream 1 is for projects that aim to build the planning workforce and capability to improve the efficiency of the planning process so that housing construction can start sooner.

These could be new pathways for planners and related professions to enter the industry, or tools to streamline planning systems and improve decision‑making efficiency.

Projects could also look at sharing resources between local governments or supporting master planning and planning reform.

Projects must demonstrate how they will align with planning, zoning and regulatory reforms agreed through National Cabinet’s National Planning Reform Blueprint, land‑use planning for disaster resilience and the aims of the National Housing Accord.

The National Housing Accord with states and territories sets out a shared ambition to build 1.2 million new well‑located homes over 5 years from 1 July 2024.

Homes would be close to jobs, schools, transport and other amenities to support improved productivity and liveability.

The Commonwealth has also committed $3 billion for the New Homes Bonus to boost housing supply and federal funding to deliver 40,000 new affordable rental homes.

Applications for stream 1 of the $500 million Housing Support Program will be open from Wednesday 27 March 2024 until 12:00 pm AEST Monday 29 April 2024.

Stream 2 will provide funding for projects that provide enabling infrastructure and amenities such as footpaths, roads and parks to support new housing. This stream will open for applications May 2024.

For further information visit Housing Support Program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King MP:

“Through the Housing Support Program, we’ll be helping to turbocharge planning so we can deliver more homes for more Australians.

“Strengthening planning capability through the program will help kick‑start housing supply from local, state and territory governments.

“It’s a critical part of plan to work with states and territories and help them meet the ambitious national target to build 1.2 million well‑located new homes.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business, Julie Collins MP:

“Our Government has a broad and ambitious housing agenda to help address Australia’s housing challenges, and the Housing Support Program is a critical part of that agenda.

“I urge all councils and state and territory governments to submit their projects so we can work together to get more homes on the ground, faster.

“Our ambitious housing reform agenda is working across the board – more help for renters, more help for homebuyers and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.”

Tamworth’s new ambulance station officially opened

Source: New South Wales Premiere

NSW Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said the purpose-built ambulance station has been tailored to the needs of the local community.

“This is part of our commitment to invest in rural and regional health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for people here in Tamworth and right across our regions,” Mr Park said.

“The old ambulance station on Marius Street is almost 100 years old, so I’m very pleased to deliver this new state-of-the-art facility for our local community and of course our highly regarded paramedics.

Member of the Legislative Council and Labor spokesperson for Tamworth Anthony D’Adam said the NSW Labor Government was committed to boosting frontline emergency care across regional NSW.

“This new facility was designed in consultation with local paramedics and ensures they have access to the best possible facilities to support them to continue their incredibly important work within the community,” Mr D’Adam said.

The new station includes internal parking for up to 12 emergency ambulance vehicles, external parking for ambulance relief and specialist vehicles, staff rest facilities, administration and office areas, logistics and storage areas, an internal wash bay and a Medic Fit gym.

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said local paramedics were excited to be operating out of a new high-quality ambulance station.

“This new facility will not only provide a more comfortable working environment for paramedics but allow for enhanced training and development of our staff,” Dr Morgan said.

NSW Ambulance paramedics were joined by their families and community members at a ceremony to mark the official opening today.

The new facility on Piper Street was delivered as part of the $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program.

450 jobs for the Hunter as coal mine transforms into motor park and tourist resort

Source: New South Wales Premiere

Once completed this will be Australia’s first dedicated recreation resort park for motoring enthusiasts, creating more than 450 jobs during construction and 229 permanent roles.

It is set to draw national and international attention to Lake Macquarie for its world-class high-speed circuit, driver training academy, Go Kart precinct and motoring resort facilities.

Mining is a temporary use of land and the NSW Government is committed to exploring new opportunities for post-mine land use which promotes new industries and encourages economic diversification.

With the relinquishment of the mining lease now being undertaken, handover to the Black Rock Motor Resort will soon take place.

Once operational, the Black Rock Motor Resort will feature:

  • a world-class 5.25km driving circuit, designed by global F1 track design leader, Tilke Group
  • a driver training centre
  • go-kart racing
  • adventure-tourism experiences
  • a function centre
  • a short-term accommodation centre
  • a café.

The Rhondda Colliery rehabilitation has been facilitated under NSW’s robust and comprehensive framework for mine rehabilitation. It enables the repurposing of former mining land to ensure it can continue to be used in productive ways that support communities, while ensuring residual risks from mining are actively managed with any new site development.

There are a number of other major projects in NSW currently being considered for post-mine land use, including as renewable energy hubs and for pumped hydro. These sites include Idemitsu’s Muswellbrook coal mine and Yancoal’s Stratford mine near Gloucester.

Rhondda Colliery commenced underground and open-cut mining activities in the late 1800s before ceasing operations in 1971.

The NSW Government is in the process of establishing regional Future Jobs and Investment Authorities to grow future jobs and industries in coal-producing regions.

Once set up, the four authorities in the Hunter, Central West, Illawarra and North West will work across government to identify solutions tailored to each region’s needs.

For more information on the rehabilitation works at Rhondda Colliery.

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:

“With hundreds of new jobs and tens of millions of dollars of economic activity, this project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

“This project is an example of the convening power of government, as we bring together communities, councils and private enterprise to create hundreds of jobs and new opportunities for the region.

“Mining has long been a source of economic prosperity for NSW. As mines close, the government is  committed to ensuring sites are rehabilitated safely, and the land put to new and productive use for the local community.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“We know motorsport lovers will travel and spend their money when they know they’re getting the best.

“It’s fantastic to see Lake Macquarie step up and offer locals and visitors from across the country and overseas the best in motorsport and tourism.

We hear constantly about the need for tourism opportunities and adaptive reuse of rehabilitated mines. This is a smart, exciting example of both.”

Mayor of Lake Macquarie Council, Kay Fraser said:

“Black Rock Motor Resort demonstrates how we are laying the foundation in Lake Macquarie to embrace innovation, grow our economy and attract new investment.

“It is a pioneering example of adaptive reuse of mining land to support our economy into the future and provides a pathway for the transformation of other former mining and industrial sites.

“This project will see Lake Macquarie become home to Australia’s first dedicated recreation resort for motoring enthusiasts, providing an exciting new international tourism attraction for the city, region and state of NSW.

“Black Rock will support hundreds of jobs during construction and once operational, bringing in tens of millions of dollars each year in economic benefit to our region.”

Black Rock Motor Resort CEO and founder Tony Palmer said”

“Black Rock Motor Resort is proud to be pioneering the adaptive re-use of a former coal mine into an exciting, world-class adventure tourism destination.

“Black Rock Motor Resort will provide a range of motoring experiences including driver safety training for the young motorists of the region as well as exciting opportunities for the public to drive their own cars, or our cars, on the high-speed circuit.  

“I’d like to thank the NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City Council for supporting the vision to transform rehabilitated mining land into a valuable asset for the Lake Macquarie region and NSW.”

Yancoal CEO David Moult, said:

“I am extremely pleased with this outcome at Rhondda. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone, relinquishing formerly mined land after an extensive and successful rehabilitation program.

“Yancoal wishes the new owners every success in realising their motor sport complex vision.

“Yancoal recognises that land rehabilitation and relinquishment is an important part of responsible mining. Ensuring that land can continue to be an asset for the benefit of local communities after mining has concluded will continue to be a key aspiration for Yancoal into the future.”

Construction underway for $29 million upgrade at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour Education Campus

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The investment is part of a $300 million statewide program delivering upgraded facilities and equipment to more than 120 TAFE NSW campuses across the state.

Minister Whan turned the first sod on the site of a new Creative Arts facility to mark the start of construction, which will include upgrades to existing classrooms and staff facilities.

Mr Whan said the project is focused on delivering world-class vocational education and training to the region.

“It’s an exciting time for education and training in the Coffs Harbour community as we focus on accommodating for future growth and enabling a greater variety of courses to be delivered to the region.

“This project will deliver facilities for creative services, business and adult migrant English program courses as well as upgraded student services, library services and staff workspaces.”

Mr Whan said the investment in vocational education and training demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce and meeting industry needs.  

“Coffs Harbour is one of the fastest growing and dynamic areas in regional NSW so it’s crucial that we are providing high quality learning facilities to help build a pipeline of workers that meet the skills needs of the city and surrounding areas,” Mr Whan said.

“TAFE NSW offers an extensive range of courses in Coffs Harbour from agribusiness and health, to trades and hospitality, information technology and maritime skills.

“Coffs Harbour is fast becoming an epicentre of vocational education and training opportunities.”

The Optimisation Project follows the successful delivery of the $13.3 million Trades Hub and $3.2 million Health Hub, which offer learners interaction-rich and work-based learning experiences to help prepare them for the workplace.

The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

Interview with Leon Delaney, Canberra Breakfast, 2CC

Source: Australian Treasurer

LEON DELANEY:

And the federal government has announced a new taskforce to crack down on unfair pricing practices in relation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury, Employment and Federal Member for our local Seat of Fenner, Dr Andrew Leigh, good morning.

ANDREW LEIGH:

Good morning, Leon, great to be with you and your listeners.

DELANEY:

I managed to get through that without falling over. If I had a dollar for every time I said “good afternoon” this morning, I could afford to retire.

LEIGH:

You’re a versatile gentleman, turning up in all parts of 2CC.

DELANEY:

I do the best I can. Now obviously there’s been a recent review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme which identified a number of issues, and one of the more prominent ones, of course, was the issue of rorting. So what’s this new taskforce going to do to put an end to it?

LEIGH:

We’re just trying to deal with what Bill Shorten calls the “wedding tax”, the fact that for some people in the NDIS, when providers discover they’re on the NDIS they’re charging them more, simply because the government is paying the bill.

We’ve known about the problem for years. Most service providers are doing the right thing, but there’s a small minority of dodgy providers who are doing the wrong thing. And that’s why we’re making sure that this taskforce has the powers to crack down on overcharging, to crack down on people being charged more simply because they’re on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

DELANEY:

What sort of regulation is there for providers? Do they need to be registered in some way, and do they have to conform to a particular framework of rules?

LEIGH:

They’ve got to be registered, and they’ve got to operate through the scheme, but we’re also now making sure that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has additional resources to crack down on overcharging, and it’s just not fair to have people pressured into buying a supported service they don’t need, and being charged more than they should be.

We’ve had support from the organisation People With Disability Australia, who are as outraged as we are about NDIS participants being ripped off.

DELANEY:

So what sort of penalties will be involved for those providers who are found to be doing the wrong thing?

LEIGH:

Well, these penalties range right through up to criminal sanctions against the providers; we’ve got significant cash penalties, and that makes sure that we’re cracking down on what is fundamentally a rip‑off of people with disabilities and a rip‑off of the Australian taxpayer.

We’re writing to every NDIS participant, carers, guardians and nominees, explaining their rights, and explaining how they can help us fight back against this NDIS wedding tax, this idea of raising prices just because somebody is on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Now for some many Australian families, as you know, Leon, the National Disability Insurance Scheme has been a game changer, but there’s a small number of dodgy providers who saw it not as the best way to help people with disabilities, but as the best way to unfairly line their pockets at the expense of the taxpayer. That’s just not on.

DELANEY:

Well, you know the old adage, wherever there’s a big bucket of government money, there will be people crowding around it buzzing about like blowflies, won’t there?

LEIGH:

That’s always the risk, and the clear message to them is that the era of ripping off disabled people in the NDIS is over. It is just outright wrong, it’s a breach of federal law, and people who are overcharging clients who are on the National Disability Insurance Scheme are going to have the book thrown at them.

DELANEY:

Absolutely. And of course that taskforce, as you’ve announced, has already commenced operation. Meanwhile, the Greens are pushing a bill that will bring about mandatory divestment to break up the supermarkets duopoly if they get their way.

Now apparently there are some members of the Coalition that think it’s a good idea. What do you, and what does Labor think?

LEIGH:

I mean we’ve got Peter Dutton saying, “You ought to boycott Woolies,” and we’ve got the Greens saying, “You ought to break up Woolies”, it’s left to Labor in the sensible centre to say, “Actually neither of these solutions are going to be particularly effective, the best thing is to work with the supermarkets to bring down prices.”

So we’ve got CHOICE now doing quarterly price monitoring, which will make sure that consumers can see where the cheapest basket of groceries can be found. We’ve got the competition watchdog doing an inquiry into prices and Craig Emerson looking at the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and whether that should be made mandatory in order to protect suppliers, and we raised the penalties for anti‑competitive conduct and banned unfair contract terms as part of our broader review of competition settings. We want to do things that work. It’s not clear to us, and when we look at the international evidence that a divestment power is one of those things.

DELANEY:

Well, I guess one of the things that might have inspired that line of thinking is that big countries like the United Kingdom have got half a dozen big supermarket players; we’ve only got the two big ones, the United States even more. More players in the game means better competition, doesn’t it?

LEIGH:

That’s right. The way in which our Australian supermarkets got big was through mergers, snapping up smaller rivals such as Franklins, which used to exist, and that’s why we’re reviewing Australian merger laws, making sure we’ve got merger settings that are fit for purpose, and also looking at the pricing practices in the big supermarkets.

But I’m not aware, Leon, of any other country that’s been breaking up its supermarkets. Peter Dutton might want to tell people not to shop at Woolies, the Greens might want to break up Coles and Woolies. Labor wants to work with the supermarkets to get the very best deal for Australian consumers while respecting the hundreds of thousands of Australians who work at those organisations.

DELANEY:

Yeah. Now the other thing of course is that with the big supermarkets, they do have the cost efficiency of scale. So they, generally speaking, do deliver lower prices than smaller independent competitors like convenience stores. So I’m not sure that there’s an argument to be made that they’ve been gouging us on the prices, but I think there is an argument to be made that they’ve been unfairly wielding market power to disadvantage their suppliers and in particular the farmers. What do you think?

LEIGH:

There’s two sides of the coin when you’ve got market power, there’s monopoly power, where you gouge consumers, and there’s monopsony power where you gouge your suppliers. I think most economists would agree with you that the bigger and most pernicious impact over the last couple of decades has been the squeeze on suppliers.

That’s not to say that consumers haven’t been affected, and that’s why we’ve got the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission now doing a deep dive looking at that, and not just looking at it at an anecdotal level, but actually crunching through big data sets in the way that just was impossible a decade ago.

Big data is a game changer when we’re looking at competition reform. Our Competition Taskforce has been doing some great analysis on everything from mergers to domestic airlines, and I hope the competition watchdog will be able to do the very same with an analysis of supermarket prices.

DELANEY:

Indeed. And the government this week is planning to make its submission to the Fair Work Commission on the wages review, and it’s interesting that the government is making a point of being very clear that they want any wages increase to be on top of any benefit that might be gained from the Stage 3 income tax cuts. Why have you felt that that is necessary?

LEIGH:

Well, we want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. Changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts were deliberately designed to ensure that every taxpayer got a tax cut. 84 per cent of taxpayers are going to be better off as a result of the changes we’ve made. We don’t want to see that undermined by any decision of the Fair Work Commission.

We’ve made very clear to the Fair Work Commission in our submission that the real wages of Australia’s low paid workers can’t go backwards. That’s what we’ve done in the last two submissions that we’ve made to the Commission. In fact the very first decision of the Albanese Cabinet was to approve a submission to the Fair Work Commission saying in categorical terms: minimum wage workers deserve a pay rise in real terms.

DELANEY:

Indeed. And I’ve also read a report today that the tax cuts that are being delivered on 1 July, whilst I’m sure they will be welcomed by many people, in reality all they do is return the bracket creep from the last seven years. So we’re still really not making the advance that we might think we are, are we?

LEIGH:

Well, compared to Scott Morrison’s plan, Labor’s tax plan returns more bracket creep to more taxpayers. Peter Dutton wants Australians to work longer for less. We want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. Our tax plan is fair, it’s good for productivity, boosts labour supply, and it’s not going to have any additional impact on inflation.

Right now we’ve got inflation moderating, we’ve got unemployment low, 3.7 per cent unemployment, and we’ve got real wages rising. Under the former government you had keeping real wages low as a deliberate design feature of their economic architecture. Under us, real wage rises are a focus for the government, and tax cuts for all Australians are our policy.

DELANEY:

Andrew, thanks very much for your time today.

LEIGH:

Thank you, Leon.