Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King has led a roundtable with key union representatives and Federal Members of Parliament to gain the views of Western Australian workers for input into the Albanese Government's economic reform agenda.
The meeting follows a roundtable with stakeholders across Northern Australia, and separate roundtables with both the resources sector and the critical minerals and rare earths mining and processing industries.
Minister King said it was important to hear from workers about the issues to be discussed at the Economic Reform Roundtable, to be led by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Canberra from 19 August.
"Treasurer Chalmers has outlined a comprehensive agenda for the Economic Reform Roundtable, with a focus on resilience and skills, productivity, and budget sustainability and tax reform," Minister King said.
"The roundtable with key union leaders from Western Australia will help us understand the views and concerns of working women and men, who will be crucial to helping Australia improve productivity and living conditions."
Attendees included representatives from UnionsWA and resources sector unions.
Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Patrick Gorman said the Government was building an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together.
"The perspective of Western Australian unions is critical to building an economy that works for people, not people working for the economy," Assistant Minister Gorman said.
"Western Australia is the engine room of the economy, and with our local values, our Government is making sure we build an economy that delivers national results."
Labor Senator for Western Australia Ellie Whiteaker said Australia's strong economy was underpinned by workers.
"Bringing representatives from unions to the table in the lead-up to the Treasurer's Economic Reform Roundtable ensures their expertise can inform decision making around productivity, wellbeing and working conditions," Senator Whiteaker said.
"We remain committed to fostering open and constructive dialogue between workers, industry, and government and to bringing workers to the table to help shape our economic reform agenda"
Labor Senator for Western Australia Varun Ghosh said improving economic productivity was essential to Australia's long-term prosperity.
"The union movement has a vital contribution to make in this reform process and I'm looking forward to hearing their ideas and perspectives," Senator Ghosh said.
