ITECA Releases Its Student-Centric Blueprint For The Next Australian Parliament

The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) has unveiled a policy reform agenda aimed at putting students at the forefront of skills training and higher education in the lead-up to the next federal election. The blueprint, described as student-centric, challenges the current institution-focused policies, which ITECA argues are failing students, businesses, taxpayers, and the nation.

Key Points:

• Call for Reform: ITECA criticises the current government’s preference for public institutions like TAFE colleges and universities, which they believe creates significant barriers to accessing quality tertiary education. They argue that this approach disproportionately affects students who choose independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) or higher education institutions, leaving them without sufficient government support.
• Student-Centric Focus: The manifesto emphasises the need for reforms that prioritise students’ needs and choices, advocating for a system that allows students to select the provider—whether independent or public—that best aligns with their personal and professional goals.
• Equity and Access: ITECA’s blueprint calls for eliminating discrimination against students who choose independent RTOs or higher education providers. The organisation believes that government policies should ensure a fair and equitable playing field for all tertiary education providers, supporting students’ informed decisions.
• Advocacy and Vision: ITECA’s approach is driven by its members, who are committed to advocating for a tertiary education system that better supports students and creates a more balanced and fair educational landscape.

ITECA’s election manifesto is part of their broader vision for a student-focused tertiary education system in Australia.

For more details on the manifesto and ITECA’s policy recommendations, you can visit their website here.

For more business news, click here.

Fixing Unpaid Super: A Fairer System for Workers and Employers

Super Members Council

The ongoing issue of unpaid superannuation in Australia remains a significant concern, with a staggering $5 billion lost annually, depriving millions of Australians of the full benefits of the country’s world-leading superannuation system. The Super Members Council (SMC), representing the interests of 11 million Australians with retirement savings in profit-to-member super funds, is calling for urgent legislative reform to address this persistent problem.

The Unpaid Super Crisis

A new report from the SMC highlights the scale of the unpaid super crisis, revealing that in the 2021-22 financial year alone, 2.8 million Australians were shortchanged by $5.1 billion in legal super entitlements. Over the past nine years, the total amount of unpaid super has reached $41.6 billion, with the average affected worker losing $1,800 annually. This shortfall could translate into more than $30,000 less in retirement savings for a typical worker.

The problem is particularly severe among women, people in insecure work, migrant workers, and younger employees. Workers in their 20s earning less than $25,000 a year face a one-in-two chance of being underpaid their super.

The Need for Reform

A major contributor to the unpaid super issue is the outdated system that allows superannuation payments to be made quarterly, rather than aligning with wage payments. This gap makes it difficult for workers to track underpayments and hinders the Australian Tax Office (ATO) from using real-time monitoring tools effectively.

While the Australian Government has pledged to implement payday super reforms by 2026, the necessary legislation has yet to be introduced to Parliament, and the specifics of its implementation remain unclear. SMC CEO Misha Schubert has emphasised the urgency of enacting these reforms within the current term of Parliament, allowing businesses to plan and ensuring that millions of Australians receive their superannuation in full and on time.

“Paying super on payday will modernise the super system and should significantly reduce underpayments,” said Ms. Schubert. “It’s an excellent example of reform that benefits super fund members and makes the system fairer for both workers and employers.”

Enhancing Compliance and Support

The SMC is also pressing the government to set clear compliance and recovery targets for the ATO, a commitment made in 2022 but not yet realised. Although the ATO’s efforts to address unpaid super have increased, they currently recover only about 15% of the nation’s unpaid super each year.

Moreover, unpaid super often comes to light only when businesses go bankrupt. To address this, the SMC advocates for extending the Fair Entitlement Guarantee—a compensation scheme of last resort for workers—to include unpaid superannuation.

A Unified Effort

Ms. Schubert stressed the importance of a unified approach to solving the unpaid super problem, combining legislative action, stronger ATO enforcement, and enhanced support for workers to claim their super after insolvencies. “We stand ready to work with the Government, Parliament, and other key stakeholders to enact these pivotal reforms and ensure Australia fixes the stubbornly persistent unpaid super problem,” she said.

The SMC’s call for reform is a critical step toward ensuring that Australia’s superannuation system works fairly for all workers and that businesses are held accountable for their obligations. By addressing unpaid super, the country can better secure the financial futures of millions of Australians and create a more equitable system for everyone involved.

For more business news, click here.

Master Builders Australia Statement on CFMEU Administration

Master Builders Australia commends the swift action taken by the Government to appoint an external administrator to all branches of the CFMEU Construction and General Division, following the recent enactment of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024. This decisive move, which occurred just one day after the Bill received royal assent, marks a critical first step toward achieving meaningful cultural change within the building and construction industry.

CEO Denita Wawn praised the bipartisan cooperation at both federal and state levels that enabled the appointment of administrator Mark Irving KC, emphasising the importance of addressing long-standing issues within the industry. “This culture has existed for decades, stifling productivity and driving up the cost of construction, ultimately at the expense of the community, taxpayers, jobs, and small businesses,” Ms. Wawn stated.

She underscored the need for a lawful, safe, and corruption-free industry, highlighting that all stakeholders—employers, workers, and union members alike—deserve a work environment free from coercion, bullying, and intimidation. “While unions play an essential role in workplaces, it’s clear that some within the CFMEU have lost their way,” Ms. Wawn added.

Addressing the broader implications, Ms. Wawn noted that tackling the deeply ingrained culture of disregard for the rule of law is necessary to combat criminality and corruption effectively. She expressed hope that this administrative intervention would pave the way for a more constructive and mutually respectful relationship between employers and unions.

Ms. Wawn also called on industry participants to report any misconduct or potentially unlawful activities involving the CFMEU to the Fair Work Commission, emphasizing that lasting change requires ongoing regulatory reform. “If we don’t learn from history, we will be doomed to repeat it. Permanent and lasting change demands long-term regulatory reform,” she warned.

In conclusion, Ms. Wawn urged the Federal Government to establish a dedicated building and construction industry watchdog with the authority and resources needed to enforce compliance effectively. “Australians expect a thriving and safe building and construction industry to deliver the roads, hospitals, schools, and most importantly, housing that they are crying out for. Master Builders will continue to work collaboratively with both the Government and Opposition to achieve a strong, safe, and prosperous sector,” Ms. Wawn concluded.

For more business news, click here.