However,  labour rights and working conditions  are invisible on the corporate social responsibility agenda. Low wages, poor conditions and negligible promotion are consistent across the tourism sector. Ironically, often worse in developed economies where human rights, democracy and good governance infrastructure is strong. Trade Unions have every right  to engage and work with the Tourism Industry to campaign for uniform working conditions and wages, a hitherto neglected and hidden area of abuse. European nations are calling on trade unions to demand that tourism operators audit labour standards across the tourism supply chain.

What has the Australian Chamber  of Commerce and Industry done to protect labour standards in this country? Australians do not stand for misguided corporate greed over social responsibility, as has been shown by the  Royal Commission into Finances. And will be shown by the Royal Commission into Aged Care in this Country. In my opinion corporate Australia is blind to the benefits of working with employee representatives to  acheive better outcomes. Yet accuse the union movement of blind ideology. Or, perhaps it is because there is an election due shortly.

In September 2016, South Australia was hit by a storm of such ferocity that many residents were without power for several days. Federal politicians were quick to blame SA's power supply, a mix of coal and renewables.  Last Friday, the temperature soared to 42 degrees in Melbourne and 200,000 Victorians suffered a power outage. Victoria's power failed partly because of worn out coal-fired plants, but clearly the one in a 100 year storm in SA and the unparalleled heat wave in Victoria were due to climate change.

Read more: Blackouts as Victorians face oppressive heat

The Morrison government now wants to replace the generators in the Latrobe Valley with a new coal fired power plant. Our federal government won't listen to the scientists who have said emphatically that to avoid global warming of no more than 1.5 degrees, all remaining fossil fuel must stay in the ground. This warning was echoed in October 2018 by the IPCC. Surely this is the opportunity for Victoria to transition to a wholly renewable electricity grid. We now have solar thermal which uses molten salt to store heat; and pumped hydro using solar energy to raise water; the problem of a constant supply has been solved. What are you waiting for Victoria?

There is a simple way to end the arguments about the date of Australia Day. The great day when we declare the Republic of Australia will be the new Australia Day. It will be a day we can all celebrate, no matter what colour, creed or culture. There will be no need for argument. Australia Day will take on an entirely new meaning. This is another good reason for Australia to become a republic.

Read more: Should Australia Day be moved?

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