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An additional 180,000 fee-free TAFE places will be created by 2023 as part of a major training package launched at the government's jobs and skills summit.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told attendees at the summit on Thursday the $1.1 billion package would be jointly funded by federal, state and territory governments.
He said Australians need to gain the skills required to get good jobs.
"I want this to be the beginning, not the end, of progress we see on skills over the next two days," he said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlined the challenges facing the economy that are "largely agreed, and already understood", including migration settings and bargaining rules that are no longer fit for purpose.
He also said he wanted to see a lift in wages at the same time as boosted profits.
"Rising profits and rising wages, not rising profits or rising wages," Dr Chalmers called for in his opening address.
He urged participants to strive for collaboration over the two day event.
"Each of us walked in this morning with different backgrounds, different opinions and different objectives - but with a common purpose - to help build a bigger, better trained and more productive workforce," he said.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Business Council of Australia have already found common ground on several key issues, including lifting permanent migration numbers.
"We haven't put a figure on it, but we have a common understanding that moving towards a more permanent migration system and lifting the number of permanent migrants goes along with the other things we've said about making sure that people have access to jobs and skills and opportunities," ACTU president Michele O'Neil told reporters on Thursday.
Both groups also want the industrial relations system made "simpler, fairer, and more accessible".
The two groups also called for Commonwealth paid parental leave to be boosted to 26 weeks from 18 to help increase women's participation in the workforce.
"We don't agree on everything but where we can find solutions, of course we should," Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.
Day one at the summit will feature a panel discussion on the future of bargaining to deliver higher wages that will feature representatives from unions and business.
The first day will also touch on participation of women in the workforce and the job-creating potential of the clean energy transition.
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Schoolteacher Christopher Dawson is set to return to court two days after a bombshell verdict found him guilty of murdering his wife 40 years ago.
The case will be back for a directions hearing in front of Justice Ian Harrison, who found Dawson, 74, murdered his wife Lynette and disposed of her body because of his obsession with one of his teenage students, known as JC, who was also the family babysitter.
Mrs Dawson's body has never been found despite extensive searches of the Bayview property the couple once shared.
Soon after the guilty verdict was handed down on Tuesday, Dawson was cuffed and escorted off to Silverwater prison. His brothers Paul and Peter Dawson were visibly upset at the outcome, swearing at media crew as they left the court building.
On Tuesday afternoon outside the NSW Supreme Court, Dawson's lawyer Greg Walsh said an appeal would be filed.
"Mr Dawson has always asserted and he still does his absolute innocence of the crime of which he's been convicted, and he will continue to assert that innocence and he'll certainly appeal."
The solicitor mentioned a possible bail application in court after the decision was handed down.
However, a representative for the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said they understood Dawson's bid to be released from jail would not take place.
Mr Walsh told reporters the former rugby league player was suffering physical health problems and cognitive issues, including a diagnosis of dementia.
"I think in respect of sentencing, his problem in relation to brain atrophy is a very important consideration because jail will be much harder for him," he told the press.
A date for sentencing is yet to be set.
Meanwhile, Homicide Squad commander Danny Doherty said the police investigation was not over despite the welcome conviction.
"Our efforts and inquiries to find Lyn's remains are ongoing, and we once again urge anyone with information which may assist us to get in touch," he said in a statement on Thursday.
"After a journey of more than 40 years, we hope to give Lyn's family the chance to say goodbye."
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A major business group and key union body are calling for the Commonwealth paid parental leave to be boosted to 26 weeks from 18.
In a joint statement ahead of the jobs and skills summit on Thursday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Business Council of Australia also called for superannuation to be paid on parental leave and for incentives to encourage both parents to share the paid leave entitlement.
As well as efforts to improve women's participation in the workforce, the ACTU and the BCA also want an authority to support coal and gas workers through the clean energy transition.
The groups agreed on the need to improve pathways to permanent residency for temporary visa holders and that training domestic workers should be prioritised ahead of migration.
Both also want the Fair Work Act to be reformed so it is "simpler, fairer, and more accessible".
"We're pleased to have worked with the ACTU to find common ground ahead of the summit," Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.
"We don't agree on everything but where we can find solutions, of course we should."
Speaking at a BCA dinner on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the two-day summit was just the beginning.
"We view the summit - and the more than 100 roundtables and consultations that have been held around the country in the lead-up - as a focal point and a foundation," he said.
He said progress was already evident, with unions and business groups "taking it upon themselves to seek-out common ground and agree on shared principles".
"Of course, these conversations don't end on Friday and they're not confined to a room in Canberra."
Mr Albanese will kick off proceedings at the two-day summit, followed by a few words from Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
Day one will feature a panel discussion on the future of bargaining to deliver higher wages that will feature representatives from unions and business.
The first day will also touch on participation of women in the workforce and the job-creating potential of the clean energy transition.
Skilling up workers for the jobs of the future is also on the summit agenda, with a new report showing skill sets needed in the modern job market are changing rapidly.
A LinkedIn report found skill sets for jobs had changed by 25 per cent in the past six years and the pace of change was expected to accelerate by 44 per cent in 2025.
The report also found increasing demand for soft skills, such as time management and customer service skills.
The Liberal Party will not be sending a representative to the summit, which deputy leader Sussan Ley said she had "not one single regret" about.
But Nationals leader David Littleproud has accepted an invitation.
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The mandatory isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases has been reduced from seven to five days.
The decision follows the latest national cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders.
The reduction in the isolation period will take effect from September 9.
People will be able to leave isolation after five days provided they have no symptoms.
Seven days of isolation will still apply for worker in high-risk settings such as aged and disability care.
"On the weight of evidence, this was a proportionate response, at this point in the pandemic," Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney.
"What we want to do is to make sure that government responds to the changed circumstances, that COVID likely is going to be around for a considerable period of time, and we need to respond appropriately to it."
The paid pandemic leave eligibility period will also change from September 9 to reflect the shorter isolation period.
National cabinet has also agreed to remove mask mandates for travellers on domestic flights.
The extension of the paid pandemic leave is still set to expire at the end of September.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australians should not expect emergency pandemic payments to go on forever.
"The reality ... is that kind of support can't continue forever (and) it's also contingent on some of the other ways that we're responding to this health and economic challenge," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
The meeting also heard from acting chief medical officer Michael Kidd on how future COVID waves would be able to be handled.
Mr Albanese said the decision to reduce the isolation period was based on evidence, which will continue to be assessed.
National cabinet will meet virtually in a fortnight and then face to face on September 30.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the community expected arrangements put in place at the height of the pandemic to be unwound over time.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
Victoria: 2857 cases, 26 deaths, 333 in hospital with 20 in ICU
NSW: 5434 cases, 22 deaths, 1802 in hospital with 38 in ICU
Tasmania: 269 cases, three deaths (including two historical), 28 in hospital with two in ICU
ACT: 236 cases, no deaths, 90 in hospital with two in ICU
Queensland: 2294 cases, 14 deaths, 316 in hospital with 10 in ICU
SA: 639 cases, three deaths, 116 in hospital with six in ICU
WA: 1380 cases, one death, 228 in hospital with six in ICU
NT: 123 cases, no deaths, 20 in hospital with no one in ICU
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