Federal election 2016: Labor plans new government bodies

Bill Shorten would extend the reach of government if elected by creating at least 10 bureaucratic bodies and officeholders.

 

Bill Shorten would extend the reach of government if elected prime minister by creating at least 10 bureaucratic bodies and officeholders.

He would also increase funding by tens of millions of dollars to key public agencies.

A range of new entities is specified in the Opposition Leader’s list of 100 positive policies that is being heavily promoted to contrast the “jobs and growth” rhetoric of Malcolm Turnbull with Labor’s “people­ first” slogan.

Labor’s election blueprint rang­es from the establishment of an independent advocate for young asylum-seekers to the creation of a constitutional convention on an Australian republic.

On manufacturing, a strong traditional policy area for Labor, Mr Shorten has proposed a number of bureaucratic innovations to assist local businesses while also proposing new structures to improve­ education and computer coding outcomes for students.

With Australian steelmakers under pressure, Mr Shorten has proposed a new “national steel supplier advocate” who would help track the use of local steel in federally funded projects and assist­ Australian steel producers to win government contracts.

A “metals manufacturing innov­ation council” including representatives from industry, unions and government would be established within 100 days of a Labor government, with Mr Shorten also promising to double funding for the Australian Industry Participation Authority.

Labor has committed to boosting innovation through developing a national information policy involving the establishment of an “independent data council”, consisting of experts from government, academia and the private sector.

Mr Shorten has further proposed an independent agency, Innovat­e Australia, charged with researching and delivering new initiatives in the start-up sector. The agency could examine changes to tax incentives, research centres and venture capital programs.

A $9 million investment in a National Coding In Schools Centre would be aimed at giving every student the opportunity to learn coding, with all schools scheduled to teach computer programming by 2020.

On education, Labor would introduce a Higher-Education Productivity and Performance Commission to help universities direct more students into areas that will unlock greater economic growth.

And it would expand Tertiary Education Quality Standards Australia — the higher-education regulator — with an extra $31m to help students finish their degrees and go on to find work instead of dropping out with large debts.

Other bodies Labor would establi­sh under its “100 positive policies” include a new high-speed rail authority; a new Treasury offic­e in Perth; a $20m investment in a national redress agency to assis­t victims of child sexual abuse; and a strategic industries taskforce to consult with emissions-intensive­, trade-exposed industries.

Some policies on the Labor list are framed as promises not to introduc­e changes.

One commitment vows “no increase­ to the GST” and warns that a Coalition government would seek to increase the 10 per cent impost after the election.

Despite both parties agreeing penalty rates should be determined by the industrial umpire, Labor has listed a “positive policy” stating that it would protect weekend loadings and warning that the difference between both parties “couldn’t be more stark”.