Interview with Bridget Brennan - ABC News Breakfast

BRIDGET BRENNAN, HOST: Well, the Minister for Employment Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth, joins us now. Good morning to you, Minister.

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Great to be with you.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Let's talk about this economic roundtable next week. I mean, we're hearing this morning that there's a leaked Treasury document with a number of recommended outcomes ahead of the summit. Why would there be recommended outcomes canvassed even before the talks begin?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, it's not surprising that Treasury would prepare advice to Government. And, of course, in the lead-up to the Productivity Roundtable, there has been ministers and other organisations holding a lot of preliminary discussions. I think there has been over 40 roundtables led by government ministers discussing some of the challenges and some of the opportunities. 

So this is a really important opportunity to talk about some of the long-term challenges, but importantly, discuss some of the solutions. So we'll continue to, of course, examine ideas as they come out, but this is a really good opportunity to bring people together and look at the very long term of what we need to do as a country.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Does it, though, risk putting out the perception that everything is stitched up and all of these people coming with fresh ideas are really just going to be there to be putting up thought bubbles that the Government's not going to do anything about?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, since I've become Minister in this portfolio, I've engaged with unions, with businesses across the board. That work continues. Of course, the Productivity Roundtable brings people together to look at how we build consensus. 

But it isn't surprising that we get, as ministers, advice from departments about opportunities, but it all plays a role as we bring people together to have a discussion about what are not just the challenges, but what are some of the solutions in the long term.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Is the Government considering pausing the National Construction Code, and are there other measures underway behind the scenes to speed up housing approvals?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, I'm not going to get to the in and outs of what will be considered by the Productivity Roundtable and by other ministers and by government. What I would say is that housing in particular has been a big focus of our Government. We are the first Commonwealth Government to make the types of investments that we've seen in a long, long time when it comes to housing. 

Our Housing Minister has been absolutely focused, along with the whole of government, about how we increase supply, working with states and territories. So it is a focus of our government. Of course, the Productivity Roundtable will be looking at a range of ideas in housing, in other areas, about how we can become more productive. And I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the roundtable but, of course, the work that will need to go forward.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: The Productivity Commission and the Commissioner, Angela Jackson, was on the program this morning talking about the care economy. I know this is something you're passionate about as well. 

One of the suggestions is to have a standardised accreditation system so that workers across different sectors of the care economy could really be scrutinised and we're making sure that we've got quality workers across all sectors. Is this something we could consider, given the revelations we've seen in childcare and also in aged care?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, a lot of people bring through really important ideas. I'm not able to comment on that one specifically, but what I would say is that the Government, when it comes to early education and care, whether it comes to aged care workers, recognises the important role that they do play. 

And importantly, when it comes to early education and care, is putting in a number of changes to ensure that we are able to lift the quality of workers and ensure that that there's work being done across state borders. So it is work that we will have a look at, ensuring that our care economy workers are well-trained and are able to deliver high-quality aged care, early education services, is critically important.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: You've said there was positive wages growth from some of the data this week. What are we looking forward to in terms of jobs data out today?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, yes, the data out yesterday has shown that real wages have grown for seven consecutive quarters. And what's been really encouraging about the data yesterday is it is across the economy, it's across industries, it's across all states and territories, and it's both in the public and the private sector. 

Look, when it comes to our unemployment figures, we're seeing still at historically low figures. We've seen over a million jobs being created since we were elected, so this is really positive. And this is in the backdrop of real global uncertainty. 

So I won't predict the ABS numbers today, but what we've seen has been in Australia, despite international uncertainty, strong jobs numbers and historically low unemployment.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Just very briefly before I let you go, Minister, you're a South Australian. Are you concerned about the algal bloom that's happening across the coastline there?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, I am deeply concerned about the algal bloom that is happening. My electorate in South Australia is very much affected by it. 

I'm very pleased about the work that the South Australian Government is doing alongside the Federal Government to do a range of different things, including supporting businesses, but also accelerating the scientific research. That is really important. It is a very difficult circumstance. 

This is unprecedented, and so we all need to work together. A really important message, though, is please continue to come to South Australia There are a number of tourism businesses that aren't actually affected by the algal bloom, but people have been cancelling their trips. So please, have a look and do encourage people to still come to South Australia. 

We're a beautiful state and we have wonderful businesses here, and many parts of our coastline are not affected. So really important we get on top of taking action when it comes to the algal bloom. But equally, please come to South Australia.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: A great message. Amanda Rishworth, thanks for your time this morning.