This interim report looks at insecurity in publicly-funded jobs and is focussed primarily on those jobs where the Australian government—also referred to as the Commonwealth—is the funder, or primary funder.

The research outlined in this briefing paper confirms that Australian workers in casual and insecure jobs have borne the lion’s share of job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic – both the first lockdowns in 2020, and the more recent second wave of closures.

The Senate Select Committee on Job Security was established to inquire into and report on the impact of insecure or precarious employment on the economy, wages, social cohesion and workplace rights and conditions. This first interim report focuses on gig work and gig workers.

This briefing highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating economic and social insecurity for more than 2 billion people employed in the informal sector, and adding to global inequality. The author argues that a radical rethink of the nature of work and social insurance is needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated just how damaging job insecurity is, not only to individual workers and their families, but to society as a whole. This briefing paper lays out the Bill’s provisions and Per Capita's arguments against them.