Every now and then a window opens into the soul of the business community, and we catch a glimpse of the values and goals that shape the actions of the captains of industry.

The Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has described proposed new laws to regulate digital platform work as building a ramp with employees at the top, independent contractors at the bottom, and gig platform workers halfway up. The new laws will allow the Fair Work Commission to set minimum standards for ‘employee-like workers’ on digital platforms.

The Centre for Future Work is hosting a stream at the upcoming AIRAANZ Conference. Join us as we continue the AIRAANZ and the Centre for Future Work traditions of bringing researchers and activists together to debate important issues in the world of work and industrial relations. The AIRAANZ (Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia

We have now had two consecutive quarters of GDP per capita falling – hardly the soft landing the RBA wants.

There are just a few weeks until Australia holds its first Referendum since 1999, on whether we should establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. 

The latest quarterly greenhouse gas emissions survey shows that Australia is heading in the wrong direction – and that needs calling out.

For the first time in decades, Australia is talking about industry policy.

As Aussies, we can get pretty riled up at the prospect of the destruction of public monuments, historic sites and places we consider important to the fabric of our national culture and identity.

While overall wages grew in line with inflation in the June quarter for workers in most industries real wages are still going backwards.

In June, a joint Parliamentary Committee published recommendations that would significantly reform Australian electoral law.

Neoliberals are always worried about government ‘picking winners’, but strangely never seem to have a problem when governments back obvious losers, like perennial failure carbon capture and storage (CCS).

An Open Letter to the Australian Public

The surprising thing about the Albanese government’s announced reforms to “casual” employment is not that they’re happening.

Inflation is coming down fast so we should now shift our attention to making sure unemployment does not rise

Australia gives more aid to foreign fossil fuel companies than it does to our neighbours in the Pacific.

Some critics argue we should lay off metallurgical coalmines because they’re used for steel, not energy. But that ignores the big picture.

When workers are united, and able to collectively bargain, they can win good outcomes

In recent years, workers have been held back from demanding better working conditions and pay by a lack of bargaining power.

The RBA is currently targeting a 4.5% unemployment rate, and that is going to hurt young, low skilled and low paid workers,

Australia may finally have a national anti-corruption watchdog, but we still have a long way to go to reach genuine accountability and transparency in our system of government.

The latest redundancies at the ABC are a cruel blow to public interest journalism and its role in holding the powerful to account.