Rainbow Alliance launches jobs policy

Rainbow Alliance launches jobs policy

By Dave Holmes

MELBOURNE — The Rainbow Alliance has unveiled a radical program to tackle the unemployment crisis. Launched at a media conference on February 11, the emergency package is centred on a steeply progressive levy on incomes.

Its authors estimate that the levy would raise over $6.5 billion in its first year. Introducing the plan, Rainbow Alliance spokesperson Joe Camilleri stressed that ultimately the public sector was responsible for securing full employment.

The RA job-creation plan would give priority to public housing, community services, public transport and conservation and renewable technology. Other features of the proposal include reducing the working week to 30 hours within 10 years and a guaranteed minimum income for all Australians.

Also speaking at the launch were Stuart Reid from the Social Justice Office of the Uniting Church, Phillip Sutton of the Green Economics Network and Senator Janet Powell. All endorsed the general thrust of the proposals, with their sharp departure from the prevailing orthodoxy of economic rationalism.

The jobs program will feature strongly in the Alliance's election campaign. The group is running two lower house candidates: Christine Craik in Melbourne Ports and Nigel D'Souza in Batman. RA member Michael Hamel-Green is also Janet Powell's running mate on her Independents' Network ticket for the Senate.

From GLW issue 88