Time for Morrison’s policy agenda to get moving

If Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to keep Australians on side, he needs to reveal what his great policy plans are for the next three years, and sooner rather than later, writes Renee Viellaris.

The Morrison Government needs to tell Australians what its plan is for the next three years because so it has so failed to articulate what its overarching blue print is for the nation.

On September 2 it will be 100 days since its defining win.

Motherhood statements are not good enough and the country is in need of desperate reform. Scott Morrison needs to tell the public what his Government wants to achieve, how he will do it and what it will mean for Australians.

Yes, personal income tax cuts have passed and the Government is working on passing legacy legislation. However, voters do not give a happy clap to governments that meet their election commitments. That’s what voters expect. That’s what governments have to do to get a “pass” mark.

Morrison has a tough job ahead and if he wants to be a reformist government, like he tells colleagues, then he needs to focus on these three things: an industrial relations shakeup, an energy policy and wider plan for the economy that will increase the paypackets of workers.

Industrial relations laws are ridiculous in this country. They are zapping the nation’s productivity and even worse, they work against the nation’s interest. This is bigger than the repeated lawlessness of some unions.

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Business, especially small business, are not only finding it hard to find good staff but they are putting off hiring staff because of how tough it is to fire workers.

Next month will mark 100 days in office for Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Gary Ramage

One small business owner was lamenting about how it was impossible to find a good cafe worker. He had one, but she was stealing from the till. He knew he would have to do three things before he could fire hire — find a decent replacement, have the evidence, plus provide all the support to her once she was fired.

He knew just having evidence sometimes is not enough for the Fair Work Commission — which is why there are so many stories of businesses paying “go away” money. The stealing money must be for free.

There are similar stories across Australia from mum and dad businesses having to fork out cash to either defend themselves in tribunals or pay money to a rogue staff member because it is cheaper than hiring lawyers and going through an exceptionally tedious legal process.

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Attorney-General Christian Porter is in charge of the issue but the test will be Morrison and the team around him. Will they have the mettle to take on reform that Labor could quickly turn into the next Work Choices?

This type of reform cannot be done 10 minutes before the next election. It needs to start soon because the Government has to take the community with them on this policy.

Any legislation needs to be measured and cannot favour bosses ahead of workers.

Failure to have good policy and a good message will kill-off any reform and that will be one of the biggest blights on Morrison and his Government.

Attorney-General Christian Porter is in charge of fixing rogue workplace issues. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

It is also time the Government moved on a proper energy policy.

With Tony Abbott, Kelly O’Dwyer, Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop out of parliament, it should make it easier.

The Government talks up a big game when it comes to bringing down prices.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor has had some wins by putting pressure on energy giants on getting rid of loyalty taxes but that is not a policy.

It is ironic that this Government is creating its own business leakage. When Labor was forging ahead with its carbon pollution reduction scheme there was genuine criticism that some businesses liable under the plan would go off shore because it would be cheaper. Now, energy is so expensive because of a lack of a plan. Some businesses are contemplating what they were 10 years ago — moving offshore.

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Business want certainty and they won’t make major investments while the Government is flailing around looking for a policy politically palatable to its backbench.

And then there’s the economy.

There’s a view by some of Morrison’s team that the economy is more fragile than Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is telling them.

The economic levers pulled by the Reserve Bank do not appear to be working like they used to.

There’s a view by some of Morrison’s team that the economy is more fragile than Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is telling them. Picture: Kym Smith

Generally, inflation is low, except for health and education services, which are running well above CPI and wage growth.

Frydenberg is not in panic mode, and he’s right not to be, however, if by National Accounts in March next year there has been little improvement in the economy, Morrison and the Treasurer will be under significant pressure.

There are also the constant niggles annoying families.

Private health insurance is at a crossroads, despite all the worthy work done by Health Minister Greg Hunt.

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At some point, the increases in private health insurance will reach tipping point. It is all well and good to tell the public that private health insurance premiums are growing at the smallest rate in years, but for hip pockets, it is still an increase. No voter wants to give the Government a high five after their bills increase.

And then there’s the cost of childcare. The fact one child in care can cost $2600 a month — at a standard, city day care centre, is an outrage.

Childcare centres charge parents during public holidays and even when their kids are not there.

The Government knows the childcare centre are ripping the government, taxpayers and families off. It has to stop.

All these issues are linked to productivity. It’s time Morrison tells the country the plan.

Renee Viellaris is a federal political reporter for the Courier-Mail.