Inequality and Insecurity

The 6th Annual Ron McCallum Debate

15 September 2016

What:           The Ron McCallum Debate

When:             Thursday 29 September 2016, 4pm–6pm

Where:            Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street , Sydney

Rising inequality and growing insecure work are two key challenges of our time with social, economic and political consequences.

The decline of economically secure, standard working arrangements is a world-wide trend and employment insecurity is now a feature for many workers across the Australian economy. Businesses are also facing disruption and an unstable economic environment.

The 2016 Ron McCallum Debate will explore the intersections between increasing inequality and insecure work and possible responses.

Our panel of speakers covering union, business, community and academic perspectives will canvass questions such as:

  • What policy settings are needed to respond to these interlinked trends?
  • How do we ensure economic security in a world of precarious work?
  • Is the rise of insecure work able to be reversed?

The debate is held annually in honour of Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO Australia’s leading labour law academic.

It will be chaired and moderated by The Hon Geoff Giudice AO.

Speakers include:

  • Professor Ron McCallum
  • Caterina Cinanni, National President, National Union of Workers;
  • Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service;
  • Dr Joanna Howe, University of Adelaide;
  • Kate Carnell AO, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; and
  • Alex Malley FCPA, Chief Executive, CPA Australia.

Media contact: Clare Ozich – 0403 456 131

This event is being presented by the Australian Institute of Employment Rights and sponsored by Harmers Workplace Lawyers.

  1. Executive Member, AIER
  2. Sean Scalmer is Professor of Australian History in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at Melbourne University. Sean studied political economy and political science at the University of Sydney, before undertaking a PhD on intellectuals and class in the Australian labour movement. He worked as a research fellow in the Department of Politics, Macquarie University (1998-2004), then as a Lecturer in Sociology (2004-2006) at the same University. He joined the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne in 2007. Sean’s major interests are in the histories of social movements, class, and democracy. orders for food delivery platform workers. [Bio from Sean Scalmer’s Melbourne University webpage]