"what will Dud Dutton be doing while all others are at the two day 'Job and Skills' Summit?"

Perhaps he'll be talking to those who Albo et al believe don't warrant representation at the 'big boys' table. You know, people like small business owners. Small business is the largest generic employer in the country, but apparently won't get a seat. Perhaps their views would be...unhelpful.

Or people like non-unionised workers who make up the largest proportion of workers. They also won't be asked their views.

Somehow this is called being inclusive.

Don't kid yourself mhaze, you don't do that from Washington DC.
He's over there working on military agendas, that will turn a few generations of Australian men into emotionally broken, limbless war victims like the one's in Ukraine, in a war against our largest trading partner that he or his kids wont have to fight themselves.
Sad but true.

Dear Paul,

Labor's Jobs and Skills Summit is a positive step.
Of course solutions won't be found at the Jobs
Summit. It's not something that can be resolved
in a couple of days - but hopefully the Summit will
facilitate the establishment of a number of mechanisms
(formal and informal) that will guide reform in a number of
areas over the next years.

Things like raising productivity, improving skills and
training, having a labour force able to promote and
adapt industrial change, ensuring an adequate climate
and energy transition - female employment,
are all matters in which both business and labour can
benefit.

The government appears to be interested in a long
term plan - not short term theatrics. By inviting
unions, business and government to all look
for co-operation from each other over the long haul
is a good strategy. By encouraging all sides to
think outside the box and contribute to the
solutions are all matters in which as stated earlier -
both capital and labour can benefit.

It's a good step that the government is taking in
seeking views and encouraging further
engagement in issues.

Thank you for raising this topic for discussion.

Hi Foxy,

Anything that brings people, with sometimes opposing views such as employers and employees along with government together in positive dialog, can be nothing if not productive. Regardless of what side of the political divide people are on, anything that can give them the opportunity to see the others point of view and establish worthwhile relationships must be good.

I'm starting to believe David Littleproud, like Michael Michael McCormack before him, note I don't include Barnaby Joyce, are halfway decent politicians. I expected Adam Bandt to put his hand up to participate in this summit. Although Green MP's are strong willed and forceful, and many disagree with Greens policy, that's for sure, and that's politics, I can honestly say I've never met one who wanted to put party interest in front of the interest of people. In the case of Peter Dutton, by refusing an invite he is both isolating himself and his party from the broader electorate. A Federal election tomorrow would see this guy disappear up his own 'A' hole, that's for sure.

Dear Paul,

I am so pleased that the government wants all sides
to think outside the box and contribute to finding
solutions to our problems. That is what was promised
prior to their election - that negotiation would
be the encouraged way to govern. The politicians who
will insist in trying to just score political points
will be left by the wayside - as the last election
showed.

The time now is ripe for new approaches and working
together to achieve better results for us all.
We need long term plans - not short term theatrics.
And those who don't understand that do so at their own
political risk.

Foxy,

This "jobs" talkfest is very union-heavy and deeply set inside Labor's "box"

The chance of this talkfest actually creating jobs other than for union cronies is pretty much zero.