WorkChoices legislation a focus at international conference

Wednesday 6 December 2006

The WorkChoices legislation and long-term youth and Indigenous unemployment will be under the spotlight at an international conference being held in Newcastle tomorrow and Friday.

The Constraints to Full Employment Conference will be hosted by the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE) at the University of Newcastle.

Four keynote speakers will address the conference - the Honourable Paul Munro (formerly Justice Munro), Senior Presidential Member of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission; David Thompson, CEO, Jobs Australia Limited; Professor Michael Pusey, Professor of Sociology at the University of NSW; and Kenneth Davidson, senior economics writer for The Age newspaper.

CofFEE Director, Professor Bill Mitchell, said the conference aimed to bring together economic experts to influence and inform public policy on full employment in Australia.

"Access to income governs our access to other rights, including the minimum requirements of clothing, food and housing," he said.

"Limited access to income results in an inability to save for education, holidays and housing improvements."

"Without the option to work, people are not able to fully participate in society."

The conference will begin tomorrow morning, with the day featuring the keynote addresses from Kenneth Davidson, Professor Pusey and Paul Munro; and papers on topics including WorkChoices, skill shortages in the Australian rail industry, and the anxiety and stress experienced by unemployed, retired and retrenched workers.

The conference will finish on Friday with the keynote address from David Thompson; and papers on topics including migration and labour market outcomes in Australia, the Job Network and underemployment, and the looming workforce crisis in the community services sector.

Established in 1998, CofFEE undertakes and promotes research on full employment, price stability and achieving an economy which delivers fair outcomes for all.

The conference is being held at the University Club, on the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus. The full conference program, including abstracts, is available online

For interviews: CofFEE Director, Professor Bill Mitchell, on 02 4921 5027 or 0419 422 410.