If you could sit down with the Federal Government and the bosses of Australia, what would you say?
22 July 2026
FSU event: In conversation on the Human Rights Act
What would a Human Rights Act actually change?
If you could sit down with the Federal Government and the bosses of Australia, what would you say?
Next month, the Federal Government will host an important discussion – dubbed the ‘Economic Reform Roundtable’ – which will explore ways to lift Australia’s productivity.
To ensure this isn’t merely an economic debate dominated by business interests, unions will represent workers’ real-world experiences and put forward our priorities.
Early survey results already show that 39% of Australians feel burnt out at work. Half the workforce regularly works extra hours or does overtime, while just under half feel they don’t have enough staff to get the job done.
Eyes may glaze over when the word ‘productivity’ gets thrown around (we don’t blame you!).
But having good productivity is important. In fact, it’s essential for improving our working lives and overall living standards.
Lifting productivity, however, needs to be done in a smart way. It doesn’t mean cutting jobs and expecting others to pick up the slack. Nor does it mean offshoring jobs or replacing workers with AI to save a dime.
The simple fact is that, over many decades, Australian businesses have underinvested in capital, research and people, and that has led to poor productivity.
If we want to boost productivity, then businesses must invest in people, research, innovation, skills, technology, and management practices that involve workers.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently indicated how the government will approach the productivity challenge – and importantly, what values will underpin that work.
“Too often [productivity] is seen as a cold, almost soulless, concept – when it’s really the best way of making people better off over time, creating more opportunities, making our economy and our society more dynamic,” said Dr Chalmers.
“Lifting productivity is about empowering workers and making the most of our human capital. Teaching and training them to adapt and adopt technology. Unlocking innovation, investment and dynamism to lift the potential of our people and their economy.”
Importantly, Dr Chalmers said, “The solution […] is not to torch workers’ rights and benefits.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this sentiment in June.
“I’m a Labor prime minister and I support penalty rates, […] real wages increasing, […] an economy that works for people, not people working for an economy,” said Mr Albanese.
“If we look at the differentials of how workers on the minimum wage have come out in the last 20 years […] and how chief executives of the top ASX companies are going, I reckon workers would be happy to be halfway to where their increases have come.
“So workers getting a fair crack is not something we will abandon.”
A key focus of the government’s August roundtable will be around AI and the digital economy.
Dr Chalmers said, “We want to get the best out of new technology and investment in data infrastructure in ways that leverage our strengths [and] work for our people.”
Unions, including the FSU, will pursue a ‘pro-job pro-worker’ agenda in the adoption of AI to ensure it is safe and deployed in a way that gives workers a share in the benefits while being transparent and fair.
Specifically, we will call for a new set of mandatory enforceable agreements that compel employers to consult with their staff before new AI technologies are introduced.
The measures would also require employers to reach AI Implementation Agreements with their workforce, including guarantees around job security, skills development and retraining, transparency over technology use, genuine privacy and data collection and use protections.
Our union is already leading the way in this area, having secured strong protections and consultation clauses in some agreements, including Cbus. Obtaining tangible commitments from employers and government through next month’s roundtable would be a huge step forward for all finance workers.
Reforming Australia’s economy through increased productivity is a big challenge, but it must be done in a way that works for and improves the lives of ordinary Australians.
As Dr Chalmers noted, “So much of the democratic world is vulnerable because governments are not always meeting the aspirations of working people.
“We have a responsibility here and an obligation. A responsibility to rebuild confidence in liberal democratic politics and economic institutions – by lifting living standards for working people in particular.”
After all, if we don’t keep lifting living standards for ordinary working Australians, then what is the point?
Having a strong worker voice will be vital throughout the government’s roundtable discussions and beyond. The union movement, including the FSU, is that voice.
What would a Human Rights Act actually change?
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