Bill Shorten compared to Jeremy Corbyn

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used a speech on Friday to the Melbourne Institute economic outlook conference to declare Labor’s commitment to eradicating the biggest threat to social cohesion and economic growth in Australia — inequality. The speech, according to Fairfax’s James Massola, “borrows from the populist message of progressive political leaders including Bernie Sanders in the US and Jeremy Corbyn in Britain”. But how does the Labor Party under Shorten (a member of Labor’s right faction) actually compare to Britain’s Labour Party under self-described socialist Jeremy Corbyn? Let’s look at some of the 10 core pledges British Labour made in the lead-up to the recent general election and how they compare to Labor’s newfound focus on inequality. 

Tax

Jeremy Corbyn:

“We will build a progressive tax system so that wealth and the highest earners are fairly taxed, and shrink the gap between the highest and lowest paid. We will act to create a more equal society, boost the incomes of the poorest and close the gender pay gap”.

Bill Shorten:

“If we’re going to fund vital investments for the future and keep the budget strong, we need to look at the old and growing faults in our tax system. The whole picture: revenue and expenditure, including tax subsidies. Including reforms that in the past we might have dismissed as too politically difficult.” Melbourne Institute speech, Friday July 21, 2017.

Housing

Jeremy Corbyn: 

“We will build over a million new homes in five years, with at least half a million council homes, through our public investment strategy. We will end insecurity for private renters by introducing rent controls, secure tenancies and a charter of private tenants’ rights, and increase access to affordable home ownership.”

Bill Shorten, “Labor’s postive plan to help housing affordability”  

“Labor has a plan to put the Australian dream of owning your own home back within the reach of first home buyers. We don’t want the let the dream of owning your own home vanish for you or your kids.

“Our plan will reform negative gearing and capital gains tax to make sure the housing market works for all Australians. These reforms are about putting some fairness back into the housing market, and making improvements to the Budget bottom line.

“These reforms are also good for our economy and will deliver $32.1 billion in savings which will help us to fund important reforms like Labor’s Your Child. Our Future, a plan to boost our schools for every child in every school across Australia.”  

Industrial relations

Jeremy Corbyn

“We will give people stronger employment rights from day one in a job, end exploitative zero hours contracts, and create new sectoral collective bargaining rights.

“We will strengthen working people’s representation at work and the ability of trade unions to organise, so that working people have a real voice at work. And we will put the defence of social and employment rights, as well as action against undercutting of pay and conditions through the exploitation of migrant labour…”

Bill Shorten, Australian Council of Trade Unions conference speech

“We will not stand by and allow the penalty rates of all Australians, millions of Australians, be put on the chopping block. We will do everything in our power, in the Parliament and in the courts, to remedy this bad decision (to cut penalty rates).”  

Employment and education

Jeremy Corbyn:

“We will create a million good quality jobs across our regions and nations, and guarantee a decent job for all. By investing 500 billion pounds in infrastructure and industry, backed up by a publicly-owned National Investment Bank and regional banks, we will build a high skilled, high tech, low carbon economy to ensure that no one and no community is left behind.

“We will invest in the high speed broadband, energy, transport and homes that our country needs and allow good businesses to thrive, and support a new generation of co-operative enterprises.”

“We will build a new National Education Service, open to all throughout their lives. We will ensure there is universal childcare to give all children a good start in life, allowing greater sharing of caring responsibilities and removing barriers to women participating in the labour market. We will bring about the progressive restoration of free education for all; and guarantee quality apprenticeships and adult skills training.”

Bill Shorten National Press Club speech, 

“That’s why, in 2017, my team and I have three major economic priorities: jobs, jobs and jobs.

“… the next phase of Labor’s Plan for Australian Jobs is about Skills, Training and Apprenticeships. These are our three fundamental principles:

1)  All Australians should have access to the skills and training they need for decent jobs that allow them to support their family – throughout their working life.

2)  All participants in the economy — government, business and unions — should share responsibility for designing a high quality and seamless tertiary and vocational education system – producing job-ready graduates and highly-skilled workers.

3)  Every dollar of taxpayer money should be directed to achieving the best student outcomes and the best employment opportunities — not wasting taxpayer money boosting private profits.

“…We are determined to use this time in opposition, as we should, to develop our plans … And preparing Australia to capitalise on the new jobs and new investment powered by renewables.”