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The key election battleground states of Western Australia and Queensland are the states experiencing the sharpest decline in real wages, according to new analysis released today by the McKell Institute.

The new report, ‘Stuck in Neutral: The Policy Architecture Driving Slow Wage Growth in Australia,’ finds that in 2021 Australia experienced a fall in real wages of 1.2 per cent.

However there is a high degree of variability between the states, with wages falling by 1.9 per cent in Queensland and a massive 3.7 per cent in WA.

The analysis also finds the average worker would be earning an additional $307 per week if the rate of wage growth in the period 2007-2013 had been sustained through 2014-2021.

The McKell Institute’s executive director Michael Buckland said the situation was likely to get worse if current policy settings persisted.

“Slow wage growth is an economic problem created in part by deliberate government policy. As the Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, said in 2091 low wage growth is a deliberate design feature of the Coalition’s economic architecture,” Mr Buckland said.

“Our report finds there have been a range of policies that have contributed to low wage growth including a reduction in penalty rates, a surge in temporary work visas, and inaction on wage theft. Opposition to increases in minimum wages, public sector wage freezes, and allowing the exemption of the unregulated gig economy have also been identified as contributors.

“Remedying sustained low wage growth requires substantial change in Federal Government policy.

“The situation is now particularly acute in WA and Queensland, which have been, interestingly, identified as key battleground states in this current federal election.”

An Albanese Labor Government will create the Advanced Strategic Research Agency (ASRA).

ASRA will bring Australia into line with our AUKUS partners by creating a new research and development agency established within Defence to fund pivotal research in breakthrough technologies for national security.

ASRA will boost Australia’s involvement in technology sharing and research and development, through the new AUKUS partnership. 

It will work closely with its counterparts, the ground-breaking US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the newly created UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).

It will be a premier avenue for linking Australian industry (including SMEs) and universities with our AUKUS partners.

After almost a decade of neglect under the current Liberal Government, there has been a lack of strategic defence and national security-focused sovereign research, funding and projects. This is leaving Australia vulnerable to strategic technological surprises.

R&D spending continues to fall under Scott Morrison’s watch, with Australia’s overall spending as a percentage of GDP falling  ramatically from 2.11 per cent in 2011-12 to 1.79 per cent in 2019-20.

Further, the current Government tried to cut over $2 billion from the Research and Development Tax Incentive.

Australia needs to rapidly establish a strategic research agency modelled on the highly successful DARPA in the United States. 

ASRA would ensure cutting-edge research from public sources, such as universities and industry, and classified research from industry and other government agencies (such as CSIRO), are supported and co-ordinated. 

ASRA will also aim to leverage private investment into its research priorities. It will ensure the development of sovereign research capabilities for Australia, especially in getting prototypes to delivered technology.

DARPA’s recent work includes unmanned anti-submarine vessels, sixth generation jet fighter technologies, atmospheric water extraction, reusable robotic spacecraft, hypersonics and media forensics (identifying deepfakes).

Famous commercialised projects from DARPA include the internet, the computer mouse, GPS, and Siri.

The UK has just created its version, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).

The Morrison Government is backing the future clean hydrogen industry in the Hunter in New South Wales, which will utilise the region’s strong resources and export capabilities to produce clean hydrogen for use both here at home and across the world, and create highly skilled jobs.

Due to the region’s significant clean hydrogen potential, the Government is backing two hub projects in the Hunter with $82 million in support for projects valued at over $363 million.

Through the Morrison Government’s Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs program, the Government is supporting the following hubs:

• Up to $41 million for the Port of Newcastle’s Hydrogen Hub, with a total project value of $163 million.
• Up to $41 million for Origin Energy Future Fuels Pty Ltd’s Hunter Valley H2 Hub Implementation Project, with a total project value of over $200 million.

This funding is complemented by the $100 million committed in the 2022-23 Budget to support pre-Final Investment Decision activities and early works to make the Port of Newcastle’s infrastructure ‘hydrogen ready’.

The Hunter hydrogen projects are estimated to create over 2,300 jobs when operational, with even more local construction jobs possible through the port upgrades.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Coalition’s economic plan was delivering for the Hunter, with this investment unlocking jobs for generations to come.

“Australia will be a world-leader in hydrogen development and exports, and the Hunter region is critical to realising our nation’s potential,” the Prime Minister said.

“The Hunter has been an essential part of Australia’s energy security for decades, and our investment today locks in the Hunter’s clean energy future.

“The Coalition’s economic plan is securing new opportunities for the local, highly skilled workforce in the Hunter, creating a strong economy and stronger future.

“Ensuring affordable and reliable energy, while meeting our emissions reductions targets, is key to the Coalition’s national economic plan.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Hunter region provides great potential for both hydrogen production and export opportunities, with Newcastle being the biggest port on the east coast.

“Both of these hub projects are backed by significant private sector funding and have strong industry partners here and overseas. These multi-million-dollar commitments show the faith both industry and government have in the Hunter,” Minister Taylor said.

“With existing supply chains to key consuming countries, such as Japan, and high future local hydrogen demand for uses such as electricity generation, gas blending and transport, the Hunter is a highly competitive location for a clean hydrogen hub.”

Clean hydrogen exports could directly support 16,000 jobs by 2050, plus an additional 13,000 jobs in renewable energy infrastructure construction. Clean hydrogen production for both export and domestic use could generate more than $50 billion in additional GDP by 2050.

The Cairns Marine Precinct will secure its place as Northern Australia’s premier maritime precinct with a $24 million commitment from the Morrison Government.

A re-elected Morrison Government will invest a further $24 million into Stage Two of the upgrade of the Cairns Marine Maintenance Precinct, taking our total investment in the upgrades to $48 million following completion of Stage One works.

This brings our total investment in Cairns’ maritime precinct and industry to over $300 million, including $155 million investment in facilities at HMAS Cairns to support the new Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels that will be based in Cairns, $70 million for NORSTA Maritime to deliver the Royal Australian Navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre and $36 million for TAFE Queensland in Cairns to deliver maritime training as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new investment in the Cairns Marine Precinct would boost jobs, support the tourism industry and strengthen Australia’s border security.

“The Cairns Marine Precinct is the place to go for maritime services and this investment will ensure it can meet the growing tourism, marine industry, and naval demand,” the Prime Minister said.

“This will create hundreds of jobs during construction, and hundreds more highly-skilled jobs once it is fully operational, creating enormous and continued economic benefits for the region.

“This builds on the region’s proud history of supporting the Australian Navy and Border Force, and will ensure we can continue supporting naval and other shipping in northern Australia and the entire Pacific region.

“With the Great Barrier Reef a boat ride away, this will also make Cairns an even more attractive launch pad for private and charter boats, yachts and superyachts keen to explore the region.

“Our economic plan is delivering this key strategic investment, securing a strong economy and a stronger future for Queensland.”

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the Morrison Government had worked with local operators to design the wharf, and ensure it is fit for purpose for demands today, and into the future.

“The approach we have taken, in partnership with the three slipway operators, towards the Cairns Marine Precinct has always been staged and planned,” Mr Entsch said.

“I worked extremely closely with the three slipway operators – Tropical Reef Shipyard, Norship and Austal – to fund and deliver Stage One. Now we are funding and delivering Stage Two.

“This investment will create local jobs and further enhance our reputation as a leading marine maintenance and sustainability hub.”

The Stage Two works will include critical upgrades and enabling infrastructure on the current port leasehold in the precinct, including: additional naval certified hardstand areas, all-weather vessel servicing capabilities, additional docking facilities, longer wharfage to meet in-water maintenance support requirements, improved workshop facilities, plus offices, parking and other amenities.