The Victorian Branch of the Australian Fabians invites you to the second event of our Spring Series on ‘The Future of Worker Power’.

Is it time to look again at the role of organised labour in the economic planning of government?  Can workers’ representatives, industry leaders and economists work together to develop policy?

In recent years the Australian economy has come under increasing international pressures and lost much of our manufacturing sector, the collapse of the vehicle and airline industries being recent examples. We are over reliant on fossil fuel and mining exports.

How can we transition to a more advanced economic standing within the global economy, with a stronger focus on industry? How can we create more high-skilled, secure, rewarding, and socially useful jobs for Australian workers? Can we build sovereign Australian industries and leverage our renewable resource assets?

In the 1980s, the Australian labour movement looked to European social democracies for policy solutions. There are several strategies that could be employed now in Australia drawing upon international policy examples.

Speakers:

Steve Murphy is the incoming National Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. Steve has worked for the AMWU since being elected as a workplace delegate as a young tradesperson in the NSW Hunter Valley. Over the past year, Steve has been working with environmental organisations to build consensus on a transition away from fossil fuels that puts workers at the centre.

Professor John Wiseman is Professorial Fellow at Melbourne University’s Sustainable Society Institute. His main focus is on strategies for accelerating the transition to a just and resilient, zero-carbon society. He works in the fields of climate change and sustainability risks and challenges; the consequences and drivers of globalization; regional economic and employment priorities; and community wellbeing and social justice policy frameworks and strategies.

Mark Wakeham is a Senior Adviser in Climate, Energy and Transitions at the ACTU. Previously he was the Campaigns Director for Environment Victoria, and an Energy campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, where he helped build a movement of Australians for climate change action and successfully worked for the introduction of renewable energy targets. He has worked in the solar industry, was Coordinator of the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory for 5 years and lecturer at the Northern Territory University. He has degrees in Economics, Australian History and Adult Education.

This is an Online Only event - a link to join the Zoom event will be forwarded via email upon RSVP and prior to the event.

All are welcome to stay for our 'online pub' after the event:

In our time of lock down, this is an effort to maintain the social aspect of our face to face events, which are usually followed by dinner and drinks at a local pub. So remember to come prepared with your own BYO drink and nibbles for the post-event discussion. We encourage all members to switch on video at the event to improve sociability.

Next Event in the Series:

The Future of Industrial Democracy: Wednesday, 28th October. 7:30 pm.