21.3.4 Economic management The government is responsible for ensuring that Australia’s economy grows to meet the needs of its population. It can stimulate growth by spending on infrastructure like schools and roads, which creates jobs. These workers earn income and spend it locally, supporting businesses and encouraging the supply of goods and services. Governments plan their spending in a yearly budget . The budget tries to keep our economy in a stable position, keeping a balance between supporting growth and avoiding the negative impacts of it.
21.3.5
Wages and employee relations
We know that there is a market for labour in which workers offer their skills and experience for sale to businesses and businesses buy that labour by paying wages and salaries. In order to ensure that the labour market functions fairly, it is regulated by laws passed by governments. The major law dealing with wages and working conditions in Australia is the Fair Work Act , a federal government law. State governments provide regulations to ensure safe workplaces through occupational health and safety laws. Both federal and state governments have also sought to prevent discrimination in the workplace by passing laws that support equal employment opportunity. These make it illegal to discriminate against someone in any workplace on the basis of gender, race, age or ethnicity. Victoria also has laws to deal with bullying in the workplace. 21.3.6 Provision of goods and services
FIGURE5 Occupational health and safety laws are designed to prevent injuries at work.
Governments often supply goods and services, such as education and healthcare. While private entities also offer these services, it is generally seen as the government’s duty to ensure access for all. Additionally, state governments are responsible for ambulance, firefighting, emergency services and public transport. Since public transport isn’t profitable, it relies on government funding to remain affordable.
606 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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