Over a million secure jobs would be created or supported under a comprehensive and bold economic reconstruction plan to help steer Australian through and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
The ACTU is calling for a Government led National Economic Reconstruction plan and offers up five concrete ideas that are designed to create and save jobs, protect and nurture whole industries, support public and private sector jobs, invest in future skills and training and strengthen Australia's physical and social infrastructure.
These ideas include a national commitment to free early child education and care, massive investment in training (including 150,000 free TAFE places), a 'Rediscover Australia' initiative to help our travel and hospitality sectors survive, a large and sustained increase in infrastructure investment and a comprehensive plan to expand sustainable manufacturing.
The ACTU has called for urgent Government intervention and investment to rebuild our economy and create permanent, secure jobs.
As noted by ACTU President Michele O'Neil
"We need Government to put in place an ambitious and comprehensive National Economic Reconstruction plan to get the country back to work. Government must help build ongoing local jobs, more training and education opportunities to get people into jobs and provide support for people who are making things here in Australia."
"We need big and bold Government investment and action in order for Australia to return to health - both socially and economically.
"With almost one million people officially unemployed and many hundreds of thousands out of work, or without enough work, the Australian people need to see that the economy isn't going to fall off a cliff.
"We are calling on Scott Morrison and his Government to think big by investing public money for public good, in creating jobs that support people and communities now and into the future.
"Currently the Government has no plan to rebuild our economy and steer the country through the next stages of this crisis.
"We have it forward 5 practical Programs to deliver jobs, services, training and infrastructure for the people, places and industries who need them.
"Our initiatives will support and create jobs for women and men, for cities and towns, and for young people as well as older workers.
"Whether it is free and universal childcare, the expansion of public infrastructure investment with locally made materials, free TAFE courses focussed on rebuilding our skills and training sector, support to revitalise our travel and hospitality sectors and regional communities or building a sustainable manufacturing capacity this plan delivers jobs, community infrastructure and a future for Australia.
"This is a plan for a jobs led economic reconstruction."
ENDS (five program summary attached below)
