Unions would earn support by putting nation’s interests first

Most Australians would support unions if only they were genuinely interested in making the country a better place for all; if they would pursue their goals of workplace reform to ensure their members are paid a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work, and if they were treated respectfully and fairly in a friendly and safe environment. There’s nothing wrong with any of that; it’s what most of us want and expect.

The problem is some unions and the ACTU, as their collective, do not seem to be concerned with the betterment of the nation. They are about political power, tax-free wealth and over-the-top demands. They have little if any regard for those who take the risks, put up the money and provide jobs, the employers.

Union demands for less work and higher wages are not surprising and their weight at the economic roundtable will most likely be greater than that of others, rendering it unproductive (“ ‘Shorter hours, not tax cuts’ ”, 21/7).

John George, Terrigal, NSW

Of course there would be broad support for shorter working weeks and more holidays, for which the unions are lobbying. Our union-run government seems to be aiming to increase its voter base in the next election by promising more handouts, its modus operandi.

The roundtable is supposed to be about productivity, not a green light for easy street. Working more, rather than less, would surely increase tax (and we know the government wants more of that) and improve productivity. If the government was serious about productivity, representatives of business would have the loudest voice at the economic reform meeting.

The way it is heading, the roundtable will be about as farcical as the one presided over by King Arthur.

Susan Dornan, Beecroft, NSW

The upcoming economic fete planned by Treasurer Jim Chalmers seems primarily focused on raising taxes, but the focus should be on reducing government bureaucracy and spending, and on building national productivity.

A smaller government will go a long way to solving the Treasurer’s self-inflicted funding shortfall and will leave individual Australians in a much better financial position. Any treasurer can spend taxpayers’ money and increase taxes to cover their spending, but to be a treasurer of note they need to improve the financial wellbeing of all Australians. Without destroying the motivation to work hard, they need to take risks, build businesses and increase their personal productivity. Fighting over the allocation of an ever diminishing economic pie, rather than increasing the size of the pie, dooms the nation to economic failure and reduced living standards for all. Smaller, more efficient government, increased productivity and lower taxes make long-term economic sense and everyone wins.

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

They say a picture says a thousand words and so does the Johannes Leak cartoon showing the diminishing returns of a low-productivity economy facing King Albo and the Knights of the Productivity Roundtable (21/7).

Years of ignoring Productivity Commission recommendations by various governments has caused a diminished standard of living in Australia.

Unless Albo gets fair dinkum about productivity, the slide in living standards will continue. Sectional interests, whether trade union or corporate, cannot be allowed to prevail. Albo has an opportunity to turn the tide for the good of all in focusing on productivity. Let us hope he has the courage to get this done.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

If Anthony Albanese genuinely intended to have a summit on productivity – and that is questionable – it is becoming clearer by the day that Jim Chalmers clearly scuttled that plan at the behest of union bosses. Already he has changed the title to expunge any concept of the original intent.

As the event draws closer, powerful unions are resetting the agenda, criticising and even calling for the elimination of the Productivity Commission, the principal body charged with the task of improving this essential element of communal prosperity.

Union statements essentially define productivity as working less for more pay, without realising this can only lead to the elimination of employers.

Michael Saul, Scarborough, Qld