THE National Tertiary Education Union will be a key member of a new working group to advise the Federal Labor Government on higher education policy.

The advisory body, announced as part of the Jobs and Skills Summit on Friday, will help inform Education Minister Jason Clare's decisions about issues in the higher education sector including visa arrangements for international students.

NTEU national president Dr Alison Barnes welcomed the opportunity to help form government policy.

"Giving the Union a seat at the table will lead to better outcomes for Australia's higher education sector," she said.

"Our members are experts in what needs to be done in the sector and they'll inform our input in this new working group."

The working group will also include the Council of International  Education, the Departments of Home Affairs and Education, and Universities Australia.

The Federal Government is proposing to increase the duration of post-study work rights for recent university graduates in select degrees in areas of verified skill shortages by two years in order to help grow our skilled labour capacity in Australia.

"We will work to ensure any change to post-study work rights has appropriate safeguards to protect international students and are in genuine areas of skills shortages," Dr Barnes said.

"The government has made it clear this is about strengthening the pipeline of skilled labour in Australia. We're willing to help with that work including through guaranteeing there are no unintended consequences.

"We want to ensure that international graduates are working in the areas of their expertise and are not subjected to exploitative practices, so we're eager to shape this plan.

"This group will also give government advice on other critical issues to our sector."

The working group is due to report to Minister Clare by October 28.

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OPPOSITION SENATORS Simon Birmingham and James Paterson have released a statment on the alleged state-backed cyber attack reportedly identified by Australian cyber security services as having originated from China.

"The Coalition is deeply concerned about media reports claiming that Chinese state-backed cyber criminals have sought to target sensitive Australian government agencies and media companies.  

"These actions, if corroborated by our security agencies, represent a significant threat to our institutions and our democracy.

"We urge the government to use every available resource to investigate this serious alleged cyber incident.

"We call on the government to provide clear advice to Australian individuals and businesses about how they can protect themselves against this kind of malicious cyber activity, that has the potential to cause serious harm to our national security.

"In government, the Coalition provided record funding to and equipped our security agencies with a suite of legislative tools to respond to incidents such as this. All options should be on the table for consideration, including using the specially designed 'cyber sanctions' that are contained within Australia's Magnitsky Autonomous Sanctions Regime to send a clear message that these kinds of actions are not acceptable.

"We will continue to seek regular briefings from government agencies, including the Australian Signals Directorate and Departments of Foreign Affairs, and Home Affairs."

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ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES of the Job and Skills Summit this week will be how Australian workers can get wage increases while companies find and keep talented employees. 

Data from an RMIT Online survey released today reveals inflation is pressuring workers to ask for pay raises and that the talent war hasn't been enough to make them satisfied with their current paychecks. 

The vast majority of those interviewed (85%) say they are much more worried about the cost of living and financial compensation today than a year ago. Almost half of the respondents (47%) complained privately to peers and friends about lower pay. 

Over a third of the respondents have changed jobs in the past 12 months, primarily led by higher salaries and career advancement. Of those, almost one-third (28%) moved jobs for a raise of $5,000 or less, and 61% moved for less than $10,000. 

Of the other two-thirds who stayed in their companies in the past year, 75% would change for an increased wage, with most (52%) saying that it would take $10,000 or less to convince them to make a move.  

Not feeling valued is the primary reason (57%) why employees are dissatisfied with their jobs, closely followed by not having an adequate salary for their role (51%). 

"Our survey shows Australians are really feeling the impact of the rising cost of living and inflation. However, while a higher salary may sway some employees in the short term; if an employee is unhappy or unsupported in their role, better remuneration alone will not be sufficient to facilitate long-term retention,” RMIT Online Interim CEO Claire Hopkins said. . 

“Future career opportunities were the second highest driver for Australians looking for a new role. The current labour market demands employers weigh up their entire employee value proposition. This includes personal development and upskilling to help team members feel recognised, challenged and excited for their own career development.”

Graphs and data

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Survey methodology 

The survey was produced by the RMIT Online team in partnership with the market research company IPSOS. In total, the research team interviewed 800 Australian workers between August 8 and 15, 2022. The positions were classified as managers (executive or business owner, CEO, director and manager) and non-managers (employees and interns).   

About RMIT Online

RMIT Online was created by RMIT University to provide a world-class digital learning experience at the nexus of business, design and technology, leaning into future of work needs to equip students with in-demand skills and qualifications. RMIT Online teams up with industry thought leaders and experts to deliver the best in flexible education using the latest digital tools and technologies for a highly interactive, virtual cohort experience. RMIT Online is dedicated to achieving its mission of future-ready careers and creating a “community of lifelong learners, successfully navigating the world of work".

www.online.rmit.edu.au

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CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ (CA ANZ) said the Federal Government’s commitment to legislate tax deductions for small business was "a big win for those already struggling to retain talent".

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the government’s intention to legislate initiatives which allow businesses with a turnover of up to $50 million the capacity to deduct 120 percent of expenditure on training of staff up until June 30, 2024.

Small businesses will also be able to gain a bonus 20 percent deduction which will support the uptake of digital technologies until June 30, 2023.

“This is a big win for small business, and I thank the Federal Government for moving swiftly to legislate these proposals as it is something, as a profession, we have been advocating for,” CA ANZ chief executive Ainslie van Onselen said.

“Small businesses are grappling with the capacity to retain their staff, and this move will give them certainty to invest in their people, and to give their staff some clear pathways in their professional development,” Ms van Onselen said.

“This type of investment may be the difference between a staff member staying with a business or deciding to pursue another opportunity.

“This is a great boost for smaller businesses in the lead up to the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra where I will be representing the accounting profession,” Ms van Onselen said.

“At the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit, I’m looking forward to sharing solutions to address skilled migration, boost domestic skills and education, and increase the workforce participation of women, mature workers and underrepresented groups.”

www.charteredaccountantsanz.com

About Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand represents more than 131,000 financial professionals, supporting them to make a difference to the businesses, organisations and communities in which they work and live. 

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