Sign the Petition for full employment policies
The Labor for Working Class Action Network committee on behalf of local workers of all sectors, particularly unwaged, underemployed and unemployed in Queensland calls on all levels of government to commit to full employment initiatives and asks all concerned citizens to support the Network’s Change.org petition
Why we need full employment policies
Before the Covid–19 pandemic there were signs that a recession was imminent, a recession with output per person declining since late 2018. A reset of the way our economy is structured is recognised with both major parties now supporting stimulus policies.
Many policy makers, particularly in the global labour and progressive movements, are investigating ways to return to full employment as evident here in Australia from 1945 to 1975. A period based on Keynesian principles that increased government expenditure and lowered taxes to stimulate demand and mitigate recession. A period of policy making that was primarily bipartisan until the uptake of Neoliberalism.
Neoliberal policies have since become the dominant ideology driving political and economic decisions of most developed nations. This ideology is notable for creating disparities in wealth and inequality through the promotion of competitive markets free from regulation. Neoliberal’s ability to reduce national government’s size limits the powers and capabilities of elected representatives and allows corporations to become much larger and exert far greater force on governments to act in their favour. It has seen the increased self-interest of individuals and corporations as the determinant on the level of employment.
Neoliberalism has run its course
A great many people will look to this idea and cry out and ask, “What about inflation?” Well, this is not always true as we must remember high wages were a factor during earlier changing economies. In the 20th century, unlike now, there was an unrealistic expectation of relying on fossil fuels as a driver with no thought to the global impacts like climate change, depletion, and changing industries, particularly in Asia.
In turn Neoliberalism was looked at as a short term means to cutting costs and putting emphasis on individualistic decision making which ended up favouring corporates to solve this. Neoliberalism has run its course after the GFC and Covid pandemic and a new economic paradigm is now needed coinciding with a return to Keynesian style thinking.
Jobs and employment are always used as catchphrases come election time to win support for any candidate or politician on all levels of government. For the Redlands the ‘saviour’ for all our woes has been cited to be the housing industry for tradies or the Toondah PDA residential development. Let us look at employment particularly locally and historically.
Full employment work programs
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, heeding calls from unions and community groups, the Cleveland Shire Council along with all other councils of the day worked with the State Forgan-Smith Labor Government and full employment ideas to initiate road, and bridge construction programs along with other nation building stimuli.
The most notable program in Brisbane being the Story Bridge, and locally, the building of roads and government services. This was also during a time of a conservative Mayor, G.J. Walter. Other conservative councils also adopted public work policies. The Gympie Deputy Mayor J.W. Hughes (one of my forebearers) adopted policies in Gympie increasing funding to health services via an Ambulance service.
Even in the post war (1940s) reconstruction and implementation of full employment nationally by Menzies and his Liberal successors continued. The policies that Curtin and Chifley enacted well into the Whitlam era led to boom times and prosperity.
Nowadays, we need to look at rebuilding manufacturing rather than the government levels focusing on foreshore developments that will take decades to construct with significant environmental implications. Particularly now that investments coming from China after this pandemic may be questionable. The Redlands needs to be looking at building manufacturing in key areas where it is profitable, supporting a basic wage, supporting local tourism, the arts, education, our already existing business centre, infrastructure and most importantly renewables.
The need for a new focus on full employment is why a group of union activist and I have established the Labor for Working Class Action Network and have started a petition requesting all levels of government to take on board the need for Full Employment in the Covid Recovery, not just for now but the long term. We need jobs now that will last, not just distant possibilities like the Toondah development that may literally sink our economy in mud.
Callen Sorensen Karklis
Secretary of the Labor for Working Class Action Network committee.
I support Keynesian economic principles which have indeed helped develop the world in the 20th century, especially after the Great Depression and WW2. Now after the GFC and the Pandemic we need to return to those principles. At the same time the situation with China has shown that we need to be more self sufficient in manufacturing of necessities, and that we don’t need to develop more coal mines, because they won’t buy our coal anymore. India will also scale down buying coal from us, so we need to substitute mining coal with different and new industries. Renewable energy, especially solar and wind, and battery development will be very important for this. Most oil & gas companies are already developing their solar and wind farm policies.! I know this because I did work for such a company. Thus I support the push for government investment into infrastructure that will benefit new industries to develop.