The Albanese government has rejected demands that National Reconstruction Fund recipients have union agreements, while the ACTU warns it could become a ‘slush fund’.
The Albanese government has rejected union demands that recipients of the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund must have union agreements.
The Department of Industry’s discussion paper on the NRF says investment decisions should have regard to government priorities such as “creating secure, well-paid jobs”., comparing it to similar requirements in a NSW Coalition state infrastructure board. It also wants to install union directors.Industry Minister Ed Husic, himself a former union leader, emphasised during question time on Monday that the government wanted to ensure the “independence” of the fund.
The Coalition will oppose the legislation, leaving the government at the mercy of the Greens and Senate crossbench., but a source said the concerns were misplaced because such projects were not in the remit of the fund.While traditionally supportive of ambit union claims, Greens industry spokeswoman senator Penny Allman-Payne did not comment on whether the party backed the union’s industrial relations demands or would pursue them in Senate negotiations.
The ACTU called on the government to “future proof” the fund by introducing legislative objectives, including to create “secure, well-paid jobs and unionised jobs”.Senator Allman-Payne said the Greens “share the ACTU’s concerns that the current legislation provides complete ministerial discretion on how the fund is used”.
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