Who’s in, who’s out ... bank bosses snubbed for Albanese’s jobs summit

The chiefs of the big four, which employ almost 150,000 Australians, haven’t been invited to the Albanese government’s jobs summit next week.

Nic Cerrone of Cerrone Jewellers, left, with Anthony Albanese and Skills and Training Minister Brendan in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The bosses of the big four banks, which among them employ almost 150,000 Australians, have not been invited to the Albanese government’s jobs summit next week.

The chief executives of the Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ and National Australia banks will not be at the crucial two-day conference as Treasury seeks to limit the number of guests to about 100, ­including representatives from unions, industry groups, government and not-for-profits.

While the big lenders have found other ways to consult Treasury about the workforce challenges facing the country – all four chief executives have met Jim Chalmers in the past month – the heads of some of the nation’s most important and profitable companies would have accepted an ­invite were one extended.

NAB chief executive Ross McEwan, for example, has made it clear that he “welcomed” the summit and earlier this year said “it’d be nice to be invited”.

 

Instead, Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh will represent the sector.

In contrast, Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable will attend, as well as BHP boss Mike Henry and For­tescue chairman Andrew Forrest.

Other chief executives at the summit will include Woolworths’ Brad Banducci, and Steven Cain from Coles.

The Australian was unable to confirm if Wesfarmers chief Rob Scott would attend, with the parent company for major retail chains such as Bunnings, Kmart and Target revealing its annual results on Friday.

Andy Penn, the CEO of ­Telstra, which employs more than 37,000 people, will be absent due to a prior commitment.

The Australian understands the Albanese government has been strict in its approach to guests, with business leaders told their ­invitations are non-transferable and cannot be passed on to others to ­attend in their place.

In: Chief executive for Global Express Christine Holgate. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Out: Jayne Hrdlicka CEO at Virgin Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

ACTU secretary Sally McManus and president Michele O’Neil will attend the summit.

Despite Labor’s open hostility towards Master Builders Australia, The Australian understands its ­ national president, Simon Butt, will represent the ­ lobby group.

Australian Constructors Association chief executive Jon ­Davies will also attend.

Among the major accounting firms, PwC boss Tom Seymour will be at the summit, as will KPMG chairwoman Alison Kitchen.

In a speech to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and ­Industry on Tuesday, opposition skills and training spokeswoman Sussan Ley will warn company chiefs and industry groups about “indulging” the government.

Ms Ley will tell company chiefs that the government is “not a friend of yours, not a friend of your members and not a friend of your businesses”.

“We all remember Kevin Rudd’s 2020 summit, precisely because we can’t remember anything tangible it actually delivered,” Ms Ley says. “None of this is a criticism of your attendance, your enthusiasm for the summit.

“It’s an opportunity for you to engage and put forward what you need, want, ­expect. I understand why you’re going. Your motives are good, but the problem is the government’s motives are not.

“I know each and every one of you … are attending in good faith, but the problem is that the government is not. They’re going there for a photo-op, seeking consensus for a predetermined agenda they’re going to implement anyway.”

Ms Ley says there is “no room for fresh ideas or genuine engagement”, when the government was preparing to proceed with its own plans for the October 25 budget.

Mr Albanese defended criticism that the summit could be a fizzer, declaring Mr Rudd’s summit a “success” that helped launch the NDIS.

“I want employers, unions and the non-government sector to get together over two days next week, and produce practical outcomes,” the Prime Minister said.

“I don’t see it as producing a Prices and Incomes Accord that was a comprehensive plan over a long period of time about a whole range of issues, including Medicare and the social wage.

“I think the spirit in which ­people are interacting shows that people want to participate. I know that there are many more people to the tune of many multiples, who want to attend the summit that we can fit on to the invite list. And that to me is a positive thing already that it is producing.”