Morrison wants joint effort to lift economy
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday called for an ideological truce between employers and workers to revive the country’s $A2 trillion ($NZ2.14 trillion) economy, which has been badly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Australia’s more than 7100 Covid19 infections and 102 deaths are low compared with many other developed countries, but the measures imposed to contain the disease have pushed the economy to the brink of its first recession in 30 years.
Morrison said with the virus now under control and the Government’s $A250 billion stimulus spending package winding down, the economy needed to stand on its own feet.
‘‘At some point you’ve got to get your economy out of intensive care,’’ he said in a speech in Canberra.
Morrison promised to bring together unions and business chiefs to discuss industrial relations reform, a move reminiscent of the 1983 Prices and Incomes Accord which modernised the economy under Labor prime minister Bob Hawke.
The divide between employers and workers has grown in recent years amid stagnant wage growth.
Morrison said with unemployment set to top 10%, the time was right for a conciliatory approach.
‘‘We need people to get together and sort this stuff out. As I say, they’ve been caught in grooves for too long, and grooves going in parallel lines and not coming together. And that’s why
I’m hoping this process will achieve.’’
Western Australia state said yesterday six people aboard a livestock vessel that docked last week from the United Arab Emirates had tested positive for Covid19, an outbreak it blamed on the Federal Government.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said Australia's Department of Agriculture gave permission for the vessel to dock despite being aware some crew members were sick.
None of the crew had left the ship.
Tensions between McGowan and Morrison are already high as WA refuses to open state borders, which risks delaying the opening of a travel link between Australia and New Zealand.
Life for many Australians is beginning to return to normal, with schools returning to facetoface learning and the National Rugby League competition resuming tomorrow. — Reuters