Consumer education, self-regulation by banks, and even stronger enforcement efforts by government regulators all have failed to curb incidents of financial misconduct and unethical behaviour. This submission provides a possible solution that has so far been overlooked - sector-wide collective bargaining to establish uniform, ethical pay practices across the industry.

Reduced Sunday and holiday penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers have failed to ignite the 'boom' in employment, as promised by employer groups who supported the change.

This report argues that Australia’s VET system has been fragmented and undermined by years of spending cutbacks and failed experimentation with private delivery models. Australia's recovery in manufacturing could be cut short by inadequate availability of skilled labour.

For the first time on record, less than half of employed Australians hold a ‘standard job’ - that is, a permanent full-time paid job with leave entitlements. This report looks at the growing insecurity of work in Australia.

This report argues that weak labour market conditions could be improved significantly through pro-active efforts by government to link public spending in all forms to improved job quality and compensation.