The Wire

Peak bodies for business, social service and trade unions have raised a few eyebrows today by signaling that they intend to launch an ongoing effort to co-operate in certain policy areas.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Council of Social Service and the Business Council of Australia are usually thought to come from very different ends of the political spectrum, but in recent times they’ve found common ground. They share the belief that our unemployment benefits are too low. Now they’ve announced that they intend to set up ongoing efforts to co-operate on issues like the suitability of training for job vacancies, entrenched disadvantage, and inequality.